Elderly people have been given a chance to view new accommodation designed to allow them to live more independently.

The Belle Isle apartments, located in the old Haworth cinema building, officially opened on Saturday. The ribbon was cut by Elsie Smith, formerly of Oxenhope, who now lives in the nearby Lindisfarne nursing care home. She is the grandmother of Craig Dyson, the managing director of the firm responsible for developing the apartments.

The owners of the new complex, Jayne and Toni Ricci, have run Lindisfarne since 1993. Mrs Ricci said the former cinema building in Belle Isle Road had previously been empty for 11 years. She said a lot of thought had gone into designing the apartments to allow elderly residents to live on their own.

The ten apartments - which include four two bedroom and six one bedroom flats - can be bought outright or as part of a 50 per cent shared ownership scheme.

There will be a warden on site, communal eating facilities, domestic help and a laundry and ironing service.