FURIOUS residents have hit out at plans to close an old people’s home and reopen it as a homeless shelter.

Bosses from housing association Calico are in talks with charity Emmaus Burnley about selling Booth Court, Old Hall Street, Daneshouse, and turning it into accommodation for the homeless.

But the move has been blasted by residents living nearby, with one saying she didn’t want a pensioners’ home transformed into a refuge for “layabouts”.

However, the man in charge of Emmaus Burnley has defended the proposed scheme, insisting it is needed to help Burnley’s homeless problem.

The future of Booth Court, which has around 25 flats for older people, has been in limbo since an announcement before Christmas that Calico wants to move its residents into “alternative and more suitable” accommodation.

Now it appears the vacant building could house some of Burnley’s 200 homeless - to the dismay of some residents.

Mohammed Hanif, 28, of Bar Street, Burnley, who is a taxi driver, said that it was “very wrong” that the home was closing.

He added: “The government should be paying for homeless shelters and there are enough boarded up houses here for everyone to have shelter.

“With my job I pick up a lot of elderly and disabled people and I know how hard it is for them.

"They shouldn't have to suffer and there are lots of other places for homeless people.”

Dave Smith, 60, who lives in nearby Daneshouse Road, said: “It is all wrong - they should keep the old people where they are.

"I am 60 and I wouldn't fancy moving at my time of life.

"There is nothing wrong with that building, and there is nothing wrong with Allen Court across the road either. They should just leave them alone.”

Gladys Eaves, 72, of Allen Street, added: “It is just not fair to people who have saved all their lives and are now having to move.

"Just for people who haven't been able to look after themselves.”

Another resident, in her 70s, of nearby Allen Court, said: “There are at least six people in Booth Court who are in their 80s and some who cannot walk.

"And they are being asked to leave for these layabouts. It really makes me sick.”

However, former MP Peter Pike, chairman of the town’s Emmaus group, said the accommodation - the charity’s first in Burnley - was needed for homeless people across East Lancashire.

He said: “The project is not just aimed at Burnley, but the whole of East Lancashire, and we know there is a problem.

“With Booth Court, we would be dealing with people from right across the area because we know there’s a real need for it.

“We have done a lot of research on this and Burnley, in particular, was highlighted as a location with a problem.”

Emmaus bosses say they “have a date in mind” by which they hope to have acquired the property.

It is understood work to renovate it could begin in the summer with residents moved in by early 2010.

And it could be supplemented by a similar premises within 10 minutes’ walk which would act a daytime ‘workshop’ for the homeless people staying at Booth Court.

Residents would recycle furniture in a bid to help out the town and equip them with some workplace skills.

However, no exact location for the centre has been revealed.

Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward councillor Zahir Ahmed said: “I am sure local residents will be concerned but, knowing Peter Pike, I am sure there will be a full consultation with them before anything happens.”

A Calico spokesman said: “We are in talks to sell Booth Court but our priority is to make sure our residents have the right place to live because the building is not of a standard that they need.

“However, nothing has been agreed, we are just in discussions.”

Burnley already has a referral centre for homeless people in Elizabeth Street, which is run by Calico.