Safety fears have been raised at a derelict factory complex which is proving a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

Residents and councillors are calling for action at the vacant 4.5 acre industrial site which has been extensively vandalised, used by drug-takers and left in a dangerous condition despite being yards from a primary school.

Bradford Council has taken enforcement action, ordering the owners to make it safe. The factory, in its own grounds off Station Road, Cullingworth, has been deserted since a pet food manufacturer moved out about two years ago.

Cullingworth parish councillor John Coultous said: "The complex is now being broken into regularly, mainly by kids. They have vandalised it quite seriously and there are allegations of drug-taking."

Mr Coultous said youngsters had been getting into the site, which includes offices and several large warehouses, after cutting a hole through an 8ft-high chain-link fence.

"The place has been absolutely wrecked young people have even started fires," he said. "If it goes up in smoke it will be a huge blaze and pose a huge danger to the people inside it."

Fellow councillor Liz Balding said the site had remained a magnet for anti-social behaviour since it closed.

She said: "I believe the owners of the site live in Spain so people have had problems contacting them but the parish council is not letting this go. Around 40 or 50 young people congregate there regularly many from other villages in the area.

"It is a very dangerous site shards of glass have been left in broken windows and residents regularly have to phone the police after witnessing people causing trouble inside. Something needs to be done before someone is hurt."

Sergeant Esther Hobbes, leader of the Bingley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said they had been called out to a number of incidents at the factory and were now working with enforcement officers from Bradford Council to ensure the site was made safe.

Cullingworth Primary School head teacher John Corn said he was aware of the problems at the adjacent site, but they did not involve any of his pupils.

"Obviously we want to see the village prosper and I would support any regeneration of the site," he said.

Councillor Simon Cooke (Cons, Bingley Rural) said: "I think people understand this is not the Council's fault but I, like everyone else, am keen to see this site made secure."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We are aware of the situation and we have served an enforcement notice on the owners requiring them to make the premises safe. As they have not carried out the work we are now waiting for fencing contractors' quotes to come back to us so we can fix the gaps in the perimeter fencing to make the area safe."

The owners could not be contacted for comment.

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk