Plans to build a children's home on a troubled estate have been met with strong opposition.

Proposals have been put forward by Bradford Council's Social Services to build a children's home, accommodating eight children aged between eight and 14, on Council-owned land at Owlet Family Centre in Owlet Road.

The home is one of five required to be built by the department and would house children who need care because of family problems. Speaking at the Crag and Owlet neighbourhood forum, at High Crags Primary school in Crag Road on Wednesday, Councillor Phillip Thornton (Lab, Shipley East) opposed the site.

Coun Thornton said: "I do support the process of funding children's homes and I accept we do need them. The children are the victims in all of this. They all come from difficult family environments.

"But I have concerns about the location of this site. We all know about the amount of vandalism that goes on around here. An example is the desecration of graves at Windhill Cemetery which is disgraceful.

"Is this then the right place to put vulnerable people who need our support? I don't want to welcome them to an environment that could be dangerous to them and an environment in which they don't want to go."

Some residents raised concerns that the children could cause extra trouble.

But Richard Bates, Social Service's divisional manager for commissioning, who appeared at the forum to listen to opinions, said staff would be on a rota to provide 24-hour cover so that any problems could be avoided.

"Children in care homes often mystify most people," he said. "It isn't offenders who are placed in the homes but children who have been victims of neglect or some form of abuse."