FRESH calls to shut down a notorious Scottish 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, which can cause mild symptoms but 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.

Group A strep bacteria can enter the body at the site of injection and cause serious infection. It can be spread through sharing drug paraphernalia.

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.

Stephen Wishart of Shelter Scotland's Time for Change project, said he had assisted a man who claimed he had contracted the flesh-eating disease.

“He had become homeless after being evicted and went to the Bellgrove,” he said.

“He ended up in hospital.”

He claimed Bellgrove was “not fit for purpose”.

Residents have previously complained about infestations of cockroaches and mice and said the addictions of many residents create a chaotic and intimidating atmosphere.

Glasgow City Council stopped making referrals in 2010 and it is commonly considered the last resort.

Some residents live there for many years. Owners insist it provides a roof over the heads of those who would otherwise be on the streets.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said the Bellgrove was unsuitable accommodation and he would be writing to the Department for Work and Pensions to ask them to reconsider paying housing benefit to its owners.

"This model of accommodation is not one that we would support for addressing homelessness,” he said.

It has been reported that the business has been paid more than £1.5 million in housing benefit though owners Stuart Gray and his cousin Alison Barr dispute the figures. David Liddell, chief executive of Scottish Drugs Forum, which last month issued a warning about the potential of the bacterial infection to cause the flesh-eating disease, said the outbreak highlighted the need for interventions such as a proposed drug consumption room in the city and treatment with medical-grade heroin.

However owners of the Bellgrove said the health fears had been over-stated, claiming they had been told it was “no big deal” 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. “The guys in the Bellgrove are the guys who are barred from everywhere else,” he added. “The reality is there is nowhere else for them to go.”

A spokeswoman for the DWP said payment of housing benefit was a matter for councils.

However 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."