A series of arson attacks are threatening plans for an Islamic primary school in Bradford.

Muslim leaders are hoping to open a 500-pupil school at the site of former Manningham Middle School.

But they claim they are having to maintain 24-hour patrols to protect the large Victorian building from vandals.

In the latest attack yesterday youngsters scaled a large gate to set fire to cars parked on the site. A portable toilet block was also damaged in the blaze.

Members of the Minhaj-ul Quran Islamic Cultural Centre say they have spent £500,000 buying and renovating the building.

But Seerat Ali Khan, the group's treasurer, said the cost of the damage could threaten the whole project.

He said: "We have committed a lot of time and money to this project but our resources are not infinite. This vandalism is putting the whole scheme in jeopardy. There are fires being started here all the time.

"We are terrified that some serious damage is going to be done to the building. Some of us are awake 24 hours watching the site."

Bradford firefighters were called to the former school in Manningham Lane at 4pm yesterday. A silver Honda car had been set ablaze after its owner parked it there after breaking down in Manningham Lane.

The incident follows a number of other fires being lit in the grounds and copper piping, valued at about £20,000, being stripped from inside the building.

Members of the Minhaj-ul Quran Islamic Cultural Centre have even discovered a den on wasteland nearby, made from items stolen from the school.

The group is working with the education authority to secure grants to start the project.

It already runs after-school classes for 300 pupils at its base next door to the former school.

Afzal Saeedi, who runs the centre's after-school education classes, said: "These people are out of control. They cannot be allowed to jeopardise this project.

"This could be of so much benefit to the education of the area. Something must be done to stop them."

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