A GOVERNMENT inspector has granted permission for a farmhouse to be turned into a hostel for former drug addicts - despite objections from thousands of residents.

But the charity behind the scheme says the hostel may not materialise because of the delay in getting permission.

Turnaround Homes applied for permission to house 16 vulnerable young men at Holme Farm, in Stainton, Middlesbrough, more than two years ago.

The application met with opposition from residents, including a 4,000 signature petition, and Middlesbrough Council's planning committee rejected the plan.

Now, following an appeal against the decision, a Government inspector has said permission need never have been sought, as it already existed.

The site has conditional permission to house unrest-ricted numbers of people with mental and physical disabilities and the inspector decreed that vulnerable young men may fall into that category.

Turnaround boss Harry Wrigglesworth said yesterday he felt badly let down by the council.

"I went to them for advice when we first had the idea of creating the centre and they said I had to apply for change of use for the building.

"We are a Christian organisation and we wanted to do things right so we applied. We just want to help people but now I have had a lot of the wind knocked out of my sails.

Mr Wrigglesworth originally intended to house ex-offenders and former heroin addicts there after they had completed a detoxification programme elsewhere.

But because of the delay he is now re-thinking his plans. He said they had lost a lot of money through the two-and-half-years wait.

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman declined to comment on the matter.