PROTESTERS have lost their fight to stop a drop-in centre for the homeless in Dorchester town centre.

Residents petitioned against plans to move the Hub in Durngate Street to a site near their homes in Maumbury Road.

Now plans to build the new centre on the great Western Industrial estate have been given the go-ahead by West Dorset District Council planners.

Frida Wade, 78, of Maumbury Road, said: "I don't think it is a suitable area. It is near the market, site of the skate park and homes. A better place would be on the edge of town.

"It all seems to have been decided a long time ago. Now we'll be keeping an eye on the situation to see if there's any nonsense."

The Salvation Army centre will help about a dozen homeless people. It will open during the day when staff and volunteers will offer food, washing facilities and counselling.

Mrs Wade claims people sleeping rough who have been bedding down in a house near the site have sworn at her and exposed themselves.

Neighbour Bruce Taylor also objected to the scheme but plans for the centre - near the Focus Do It All site on the industrial estate - were approved by the council.

Mayor Molly Rennie and some councillors hit back in support of the scheme and claimed the town had a responsibility to care for people.

She said the Hub was ideally placed in an industrial unit near where people are already sleeping rough in the market. She added that that it was also close to cafes and near the police station.

Trustees and manager Ruth Tomlin hope to have the Hub in action as soon as possible.

The action comes after experts warned that Dorset needed to step up its housing of the homeless when a conference was held at Dorchester Corn Exchange.

Dr Mark Redmond, from Bournemouth University, said that causes of homelessness included families breaking up, domestic violence, relationships ending and housing tenancies ending.

He added that there needed to be more hostels, day centres, clothing, food, washing and laundry facilities.