A SECURITY guard has been appointed to keep vandals away from a recently-closed city school.
Lismore Primary in Bingham was boarded up when the school closed in December – but has become a favourite haunt for local youngsters.
They have been targeting the building, throwing stones at it and climbing on the roof.
Residents fear it is on
ly a matter of time before the youths break into the school and set it on fire.
The council insists it is doing everything it can to keep vandals out and has even hired a security guard, but calls were today made for the authority to make a decision on the future of the empty school as soon as possible.
Maggie Paterson, who was chairwoman of Lismore school's parent council, said: "The kids are being attracted to the school now, throwing stones and climbing on the roof.
"They will definitely set it on fire one of these days because they are desperate to get inside it.
"It's just becoming a place for them to hang out and it's even affecting the people who use the community centre. It's silly to keep it empty like this."
Lismore Primary was closed at Christmas, along with Bonnington Primary in Leith, as part of the city council's schools rationalisation programme.
Plans to sell off the two sites have been put on hold due to the current economic downturn, leaving the schools vulnerable to attacks.
Local resident and Portobello and Craigmillar councillor Mike Bridgman wants a decision over the future of the school to be taken as soon as possible.
Cllr Bridgman, who has a strong attachment to the school as both he and his daughter went there, said: "It's sad to see it in the state that it's in and it's a constant reminder to the community.
"There has got to be a decision made as to what is going to happen to the property."
Portobello and Craigmillar councillor Maureen Child added: "We were assured that security in the building would be a high priority and I am pretty horrified to hear that there are kids that are putting themselves in danger and worrying residents.
"They need to put in arrangements to make sure it's safe and secure and they need someone to be talking to the kids to make sure they know not to do that.
"Obviously everyone is sitting on their assets in this current economic climate so we need to make sure it's as secure as it can be in the meantime."
A council spokesman said: "Due to police concerns that Lismore Primary School could be vandalised it was decided to use a security guard to look after the site.
"The council takes health and safety issues extremely seriously and I am sure the local community will be reassured over our policy to take steps to ensure the site is not damaged and no-one who may be trespassing on it injures themselves."
