CHILDREN have been warned they could be the victims of a holiday tragedy if they continue to play in a vandal-plagued, former factory.

The message has been delivered by company bosses and a worried mother following repeated attempts to board up and secure the old Hycrome (Europe) factory in Knotts Lane, Colne.

The former Peerart building opposite the site has also caused concern among local people and councillors over its safety and children breaking in.

Worried mum Angela Cornthwaite, of Burnley Road, Colne, said "They shouldn't be going in there but it's the summer holidays and children are attracted to places like this.

"To them it's an adventure playground. Someone's going to be badly hurt or worse."

Mrs Cornthwaite, whose ten-year-old son Patrick plays with friends in the area, said she was worried that there were chemicals still left in the two-storey building. But the company has denied that and stressed all hazardous materials were cleared out of the building when the firm moved out nine months ago.

Mrs Cornthwaite said children were able to get into the building through a door and smashed windows and the company should be doing more to keep youngsters out.

But the firm said it had repeatedly boarded up and secured the building only for youngsters to break back in.

Mrs Cornthwaite said she had reported the danger to Pendle Council. "Children are coming from away to play there and I'm worried for their safety," she added.

A spokesman at Hycrome, which is based on Heasandford Industrial Estate, Burnley, said: "There are no detrimental or harmful chemicals in that building. We have done everything we possibly can to secure the building but children keep going back" No one was available to comment at Pendle Council.

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