FEARS that a children's home planned for Northallerton would house violent and abusive children or sexual offenders are unfounded, say the applicants.

Almost 100 people attended a meeting on Wednesday to voice concerns about plans for a private residential home at Prospect Farm, on the eastern fringe of the town.

The home would accommodate up to four teenagers aged 11-17, with least two trained staff supervising at all times.

Applicants Mark Bradley, Eric Lambert and Trevor Myers have more than three decades of social care experience between them. They said entry requirements would be strict.

Mr Bradley said: "There are some children who need to come into care, but cannot cope with a regular family because of their own experiences."

He said the children would be referred by local authorities, but the home would not accept ones on remand, those who had committed sexual offences, or were involved with drugs or criminal activities.

He said: "As a private home, we would have control over who lived there, and if a resident behaved inappropriately they would be sent elsewhere."

Audience members claimed to have no objection to children's homes in principle, but were clearly unwilling to accept one locally.

Concerns were raised that the applicants would increase the number of children if the home proved successful. Mr Myers said: "I guarantee the numbers will not increase. In our experience, that is not a good idea. We may look to develop homes elsewhere, but we will not expand this project."

This was confirmed by Maurice Cann, Hambleton District Council's head of development control, who told the meeting such restrictions would be incorporated into any planning permission.

Residents said they feared the children would vandalise the town or fight with local children.

Mr Bradley said the children's problems would largely be emotional, rather than violent.

He said they would attend mainstream schools and their free time would be occupied by organised activities. Mr Lambert said funding would come from central Government, and they would look to employ contractors and residential staff from the local area.

Residents remained unwilling to accept the plans. "You'll find that the people at this meeting are singularly of the opinion that we don't want this home," said one, to applause.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Lambert said: "We have done everything that has been asked of us and are very keen to work with the local community.

"Every step will be taken to ensure that there is no negative impact on the town."

Hambleton planning officers were set to recommend approval of the plans at a meeting of the development control committee yesterday.