ELDERLY residents of sheltered accommodation are protesting after a family was moved into a vacant warden's flat.

Thirty-two of the 34 pensioners living at Matfen Court, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, signed a petition against the move by their district council.

They also fear that the council plans to axe the post of warden and are concerned that they have not been consulted about the changes.

A woman and her teenage son are living in the flat formerly occupied by the warden, who moved to her own accommodation and is currently off sick.

Tony Miller, who has a relative in the complex and is spokesman for the residents, said: "There is no objection to this family personally.

"The residents feel if they don't object now, some problem family could be moved in and other flats could be filled by people who are not elderly.

"The council has its Careline service, which it says is their back-up, but when people moved in it was advertised as having a resident warden.

"Something is changing and no-one is challenging it. The residents feel they have not been consulted and no one cares what they think.

"Some of the residents are in their eighties. They are vulnerable people and they are being treated in a rather cavalier fashion.''

A council spokeswoman said the warden was still in post, although living elsewhere, but was currently off work.

But she added that the council was not replacing wardens when they left the council's employment, using the Careline mobile warden service instead for cover.

"There was a vacant flat so we can move people in. There are no rules against having children there.

"When the warden was living there she had her own children.''

The residents, who have written to North Durham MP Giles Radice, are due to raise their concerns when they meet council housing officials today