FRESH calls to shut down a notorious East End homeless hostel have been made following fears that residents have been put at risk of contracting a deadly flesh-eating disease.

NHS Scotland confirmed that four residents of the privately-run Bellgrove Hotel, which houses almost 140 homeless men in Glasgow have been treated for Group A streptococcal infections.

In vulnerable drug users can infect wounds and lead to fatal conditions including infections of the blood and necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).

Along with the Scottish Drugs Forum, the NHS has advised drug users and those supporting them to be aware of the early signs and symptoms including high fever, muscle ache and infection at the site of a wound.

Dr Gillian Penrice, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Four residents have been treated for group A strep infections.

“ It can be passed through body fluid droplets such as sneezing and through skin contact.

“The bacteria can cause infections that range in severity from mild sore throats to severe life-threatening infections of the blood.” All four are recovering.

The manager of the Bellgrove said the health fears had been over-stated and insisted similar risks were present across the city.

Manager Joe McKee claimed the hotel was often unfairly criticised, claiming that it continued to offer meals to over 100 guests who did not pay the £33 weekly supplement.

He said: “The reality is there is nowhere else for them to go.”

A spokesman from Glasgow City Council said it administrated housing benefit “in accordance with the eligibility rules set by the DWP” and added: “Our view is that accommodating individuals in large-scale hostels makes it much harder to address the issues that led to their homelessness in the first place.”