A group of Workington residents will lodge a complaint with a council watchdog over plans to turn the Old Rectory into accommodation for vulnerable people.

On Tuesday, Allerdale council's development panel approved the Croftlands Trust scheme to convert the Dora Crescent building into flats. 

Neighbours, concerned it would cause anti-social behaviour, had objected to the scheme and submitted a 304-name petition against it.

Margaret Reay, 66, who lives next door to the grade two* listed building and set up the petition, said she will complain about the decision to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Mrs Reay said: "I feel let down. My husband is recovering from cancer and we can't cope with any more stress."

Croftlands wants to convert the Allerdale council-owned building into six flats to provide support for people with mental health issues. 

But residents are concerned that people recovering from drug misuse could be living in the house, which would not be manned 24/7 by charity's staff, and that could lead to an increase of anti-social behaviour.

Mrs Reay's son Philip, who spoke on her behalf at the meeting, said: "They haven't taken into consideration the residents who live on that street.

"I bet you it's going to be for people with drug problems. I won't feel so upset if it was for old people with mental health issues."

Dominic Shaw, who lives in the old stable block nearby, said: "It's an absolute joke, they have no regard for my safety and those of my children."

At the meeting, Sonia Mangan, managing director of Croftlands Trust, said: "One in four people in this room today will be affected by mental health issues in their life, either themselves or through people close to them. Mental health issue don't automatically lead to anti-social behaviour. 

"I can't guarantee that the people who will be living there don't have drug and alcohol problems, but that's not the primary reason why we are working with them.

"What we need to do now is consider everything we have heard today and have a review of that and work out how we can work with the community so they feel more positive about the people we are going to be supporting."

Councillors Mark Jenkinson and Bill Bacon voted against the plan.

Coun Malcolm Grainger, who abstained from voting, told planning officers that the views of residents should have been considered more strongly. 

He added: "These people have to live there, we have a duty of care and we must find a sensible balance somewhere."