MIDDLESBROUGH footballer George Friend has waded into a planning row over a specialist home for autistic youngsters.

The defender, who won an award for his extensive charity work earlier this year, objected to plans for a home for severely autistic young people on Aislaby Road, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton.

His comment on the Stockton Borough Council website, which was later removed, said: "We have a young child and feel there would be added traffic and noise. We also worry that our privacy could be compromised.

"Finally, if approved the use of building could be changed without permission and result in anti-social behaviour/ an increase in crime."

Mr Friend is understood to have lodged the objection in a show of solidarity with neighbours who opposed the scheme – and never intended to discriminate against autistic children.

While most locals do not object to the home being used for autistic youngsters, they are concerned it could be changed to house people with serious behavioural problems.

But there have been more comments in favour of the scheme on the council's website than against.

A business set up in January under the name of Josh's Place, is behind the plans, which involve a home for a maximum of five children, overseen by at least 17 staff. It would be based at the £700,000 five-bedroom property known as The Willows, which is on exclusive Aislaby Road.

But objectors – some of whom are being represented by Steve Barker, of Prism Planning – are concerned that under planning law, if permission is given, the home could be used to house youngsters with complex emotional difficulties, rather than autistic children.

Mr Barker also said the property had been severely flooded twice in the last four years, and was on a narrow road, with no footpaths, used by speeding vehicles, and neighbours were concerned that it was not suitable for autistic youngsters.

Mr Friend, 29, is understood to have lodged the objection on Monday, before removing it on Wednesday.

The footballer is known for going above and beyond the call of duty for his charity work and won the PFA Player of the Community Award at the Football League Awards 2016. He is an ambassador for the Middlesbrough FC Foundation's social inclusion projects and often attends community events of his own accord.

He was also behind last year's Spirit of Teesside calendar, which featured topless Boro players and raised money for the Foundation - Middlesbrough FC's charity arm - to help unemployed steelworkers after SSI in Redcar closed its doors.

Middlesbrough FC declined to comment.