A HOMELESS hostel which looks more like a hotel has opened a chic cafe to help integrate guests back into society.

The Stages Academy in Middlesbrough boasts 30 ensuite rooms, 18 self-contained apartments, a health facility, gym, recording studio and an allotment.

The new cafe, which is open to the public, will be staffed by former homeless people who can gain qualifications while learning new skills.

John Hawksworth, trainer and head chef, said he had noticed a dramatic difference in one of the former homeless women who had volunteered in the kitchen.

"She has much more confidence now. At first I did not want to leave her on her own but now she is very capable both in the kitchen and serving customers, " he added.

The cafe, which serves freshly cooked breakfasts, snacks and lunches, was officially opened yesterday by Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, who found a Teesside delicacy, chicken Parmesan, named after him on the menu - the Mayor's Special.

Mr Mallon said that the new developments in Bridge Street West, including Stages Academy, Boho One, Bohouse live/work units and Middlesbrough Police Station, were prime sites in the regenerated Middlehaven.

He added: "Here you have got a gym, music facilities and a garden. This all means one thing to me - hope. Hope is probably the best thing that someone can have, as without it a person has no life."

Every man and woman aged between 16 and 65 who is offered a bed at Stages is assigned a support worker who works closely with them until they are ready to leave.

The academy, built by the Riverside Group, was home to multi-media artist Sarah Rooney, 24, until she felt strong enough to move out into the community.

After graduating from university she found herself homeless for six months, sleeping on friends' floors.

"Here I was able to have a shower, a warm meal and a bed to sleep in, these are things I had not had in a long time, " she said.

Kindhearted couple Mike and Ann Richards, of the Friends of Yarm, paid for her travel costs to enable her to achieve a silver art award at the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle.

"When I came here I was very impressed with the facilities.

"They helped me tackle my past drug, anorexia and mental breakdown issues. It has turned my life around, " she said.