FURY has erupted after suspected arsonists torched a Keighley former school derelict for a staggering six years.

Community leaders say the inferno was an incident "just waiting to happen".

Now there are urgent calls for action to clear the site, once home to Branshaw Special School.

Keighley West councillor Brian Morris said the extensive damage caused by the blaze was "tragic" and could have been prevented.

"The buildings have been left to go to wrack and ruin," he added.

Fellow ward councillor Adrian Farley complained about the state of the Nashville Street site as far back as July, 2014.

Bradford Council said at the time it was taking steps to ensure the land was being kept secure.

Cllr Farley said this week: "It is a concern when mindless vandals do something like this. It's not good, and I did fear it could happen.

"If the buildings have to go then they need to be demolished in a safe and controlled manner."

He said management of the site was currently in the hands of the council's adult social care team.

"That department was looking at demolishing the school buildings and developing some kind of supported living facility for people with learning disabilities," he added.

"I was only at that site about three or four weeks ago to meet residents and look at what could be done to have the land tided up and trees cut back.

"We were in the process of planning for the Community Payback team to carry out some of the work."

Keighley West colleague Councillor Cath Bacon said the site was in a treacherous condition and she warned that anyone who trespassed there risked serious injury.

"The main building is still standing, but only just," she said. "If I was playing football there, I wouldn't want to kick a ball against its walls. It isn't safe.

"I appreciate the land does need to be cleared up, then brought back into use as soon as possible. It's been disused for long enough.

"This fire is yet another example of our local resources being stretched. The firefighters could easily have been needed at a house fire instead."

Fire crews from Bingley and Silsden were called out to the site at about 4pm on Sunday, where they discovered one of the classroom buildings ablaze.

Despite their efforts, the building was badly damaged.

It is believed the fire was started deliberately.

Bradford Council said this week it would secure the site and look to carry out demolition work as soon as possible.

A spokesman said: "We've been working to assess the damage caused by Sunday's fire.

"The structure of the main building has not been affected, but the temporary classrooms have been significantly damaged.

"We have put arrangements in place to secure the property and will be looking to demolish and clear the area as quickly as possible.

"This has not affected plans for redevelopment of the site.”

Branshaw School closed in April 2010, when pupils were transferred to Phoenix School in Braithwaite. Since the closure, residents and ward councillors have raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping on the land.

There was also a fire on the school grounds in August last year.