AS STAFF lock the doors of empty bedrooms in James Duncan House in Glasgow's East End for the final time, there is relief - and also sadness - in the air.

The city's last all-male, council-run homeless hostel closed yesterday, after 30 years providing a roof over the heads of the homeless.

Two similar hostels have already shut and those who work in James Duncan House in Bell Street, Calton, admit they will not be missed by the local community.

However, they also say it marks a new beginning for some of Glasgow's most vulnerable citizens.

For many of the men at the basic 250-place hostel it was the place they called home.

A large number had mental health problems or learning difficulties, while many more were addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Over the last few months places have been found for all the residents in smaller, community-based resettlement projects across the city and in private lets.

Some staff are moving with the men, others are taking redundancy.

The facilities in the new accommodation are far better, and the staff are specially trained to deal with the complex problems surrounding homelessness.

But that does not mean there is not sadness that John Duncan House has closed.

A visit to the hostel on its final day of operation finds mixed feelings among the few residents and staff left.

Raymond, 53, has been homeless on and off for more than 20 years. He has been coming to this hostel, which one worker describes as a "mini-town", for three years.

"This has been a good place to stay," he says, as he tucks into a hearty subsidised lunch of chilli and roast potatoes in the canteen. "I've got pals in here and I know the staff well.

"I'm going to a new place in Bridgeton. I've not seen it, but everyone says it's much better.

"Some pals and staff are going, so at least I'll know people. It's a shame this place is closing, but I suppose it had to happen."

Robert, 56, has been a resident for four years, on and off, after he found it too difficult to cope on his own.

Hostel manager Alan Chalmers, far right below, is confident the future will be brighter for residents

He is also moving to the new £4.2million homeless project in Fordneuk Street, Bridgeton, where he will have his own room with en-suite facilities, and 24hr support from trained staff.

The change worries him, but he says it is for the best.

The ex-soldier, who served in Germany and Northern Ireland, says: "I hope the new place will be a new start for me. I will miss this place, but I know I need help.

"I've been happy here, the staff are really good, like pals, and I'm glad some will be there - at least there will be friendly faces. I've visited the new place and it's lovely.

"Life in the outside world is too hard, I just can't do it any more."

Glasgow City Council decided in 2003 to close its large-scale hostels and look to smaller, more modern accommodation, where residents would get more specialised help to deal with their problems.

Since then, £15m has been spent on the transition, with much of the money coming from the former Scottish Executive.

Alan Chalmers, who has managed James Duncan House for the last 16 years, is sad to see it close, but says the future will be brighter for the residents elsewhere.

Mr Chalmers, who is retiring, says: "I have many happy memories of my time here. When you have been here as long as I have you build up relationships with the men, and I will miss some of them, as well as the staff who are extremely committed.

"But moving the men to smaller, specialised, better equipped units is the way forward.

"Some of the long-term men, especially the older ones, were initially resistant to moving on, but once we took them to see the new place they were really chuffed. For them it is like going to a five-star hotel.

"Times change, policies change and the scale of this place is no longer manageable.

"I think most of the men will do well, although some will find the change hard, depending on the problems they have and the length of time they have been here."

Mr Chalmers admits the job got harder over the years as the type of resident changed.

"When I started it was mainly older guys who drank and found it hard to hold down a job and a house," he says.

"But over the years we saw more younger men with drug problems and very chaotic, challenging lifestyles.

"We used to run social activities, such as dances and parties, and take the men on trips to the Edinburgh Tattoo and Blackpool.

"But we had to stop those group activities because the men became too challenging.

"Sometimes, there was trouble between the older men and the younger men, who hated each other and had nothing in common."

Meanwhile, as Raymond finishes his lunch, he ponders his new life in Bridgeton.

He says: "I was brought up in Bridgeton, so I'm a bit nervous about going back. But I'm sure I'll be fine - there's nothing else for it."