SAFETY fears have been raised after a fire at a former Darwen high school.

Campaigners say more needs to be done at the old Darwen Moorland High School in Holden Fold after the latest incident in which tables and chairs were dragged out of the building and set on fire.

An application has been submitted to demolish the old Knowles County Secondary Modern building. But in the meantime, Sgt Dave Sherrington, of Darwen Police, said officers are working alongside Blackburn with Darwen Council to improve security on the site.

Sgt Sherrington said: “It is a magnet for kids and it needs sorting out before somebody gets seriously hurt.

“We are working with the local council to try to get it dealt with as soon as possible but it is very difficult and it is taking a long time.

“We are warning people to stay away because of the dangers.

“Because of the blind corridors and sealed-off areas somebody is likely to get trapped and there is the danger of serious injury or worse.”

Sgt Sherrington said his officers had been called to the site on numerous occasions recently, with the incidents mainly involving teenagers.

In the latest incident, at 8.30pm on Friday, two fire engines from Darwen attended. Firefighters said a large quantity of chairs and tables had been stacked up outside the school building and set alight.

Crew manager Dave Forth said firefighters only tackled the blaze after asbestos fears were resolved.

Mr Forth said: “After it was established the fire was outside, it was extinguished using a hose reel jet. The buildings on the site have been vandalised and have signs up stating they contain asbestos. This is a dangerous place for anybody to enter.”

Sudell ward councillor Roy Davies said: “It does not surprise me that there is something going on at the school. What is going on is pretty disgusting.

“The sooner the school is knocked down the better.”

Anyone with information about the incident, which police are treating as arson, should call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.