A former pupil of Otley Prince Henry's Grammar School has launched a scathing attack on the state of the buildings.

But the head teacher says the school does what it can on a limited budget and has invited the former pupil to talk to him.

Roger Graville, who now lives in Harrogate, recently took a shortcut through the school grounds for the first time in nearly 40 years.

He said: "I am sorry to say that I was appalled at the abysmal state of the place. I have seen better maintained schools in the most run down city centre slum areas."

But John Steel, head teacher of Prince Henry's, said the state of some of the buildings was down to years of neglect. He said: "Our funding programme does not allow for it to all be done at once. We do what we can afford out of our budgets." He added that he would love to be able to make vast improvements to the school.

"I would agree with Mr Graville, we would love to have the money to be able to do all the work necessary, But we are cash limited. We receive £23,000 a year for the maintenance of the school which does not go far on a site this size."

Mr Graville, of Arncliffe Road, said that the old stone of the original buildings at the school still looked to be in good condition.

But it was the appearance of the newer buildings that he thought was appalling.

He said: " It's the contrast between the new and old buildings. The new buildings look shabby, the paint is scruffy. There is a general air of neglect, nobody gives a monkey's."

And he has appealed to people in Otley and its councillors to do something about the school. He said: "Do the people of Otley have no shame? Has Leeds City Council no sense of shame?

" For goodness sakes get your act together someone. Your children deserve better than this."

Mr Steel added that he would be happy to speak to Mr Graville: "I'm surprised that he hasn't been in touch with us, I would only be too happy to go through it with him."