IT'S extremely difficult to understand why school buildings are left to fester indefinitely after they become surplus to requirements.

We've seen several examples across Keighley in recent years.

The decaying structures inevitably become attractive – yet dangerous – playgrounds for children and easy targets for vandals.

Sunday's suspected arson attack at the old Branshaw site is the latest in a series of similar incidents, both there and elsewhere.

The special school closed more than six years ago. Why on earth has nothing been done with the plot?

Bradford Council is scrimping and scraping to save money and devising various money-making schemes to boost its coffers, yet vacant sites such as this one – which have the potential to earn some desperately-needed cash for the authority – are standing idle.

But putting to one side financial considerations, there are other important issues.

Those who enter such sites are putting their own safety at serious risk.

Children being children won't consider the extent of the dangers, but parents should and they have a responsibility to act.

And firefighters called out to deal with these incidents are being taken away from responding to potentially life-threatening emergencies in other parts of the town.