Children using a former school site as a playground are putting their lives at risk, it is claimed.

The warning, from fire chiefs and community leaders, follows a spate of arson attacks at the old Highfield Middle School site, in Keighley.

In the latest incident -- last Friday night -- a portable cabin was destroyed in a fierce blaze.

Firefighters from Keighley and Bingley -- some wearing breathing apparatus -- used three hose reel jets to tackle the inferno.

Now urgent action is being demanded to speed up development of the site, which became redundant as part of Bradford Council's reorganisation of schools from a three to two-tier system.

The prime plot is earmarked for a community centre and as a Highfield base for the Sure Start initiative, which supports families with young children.

Funding would be from the Single Regeneration Budget programme, which is pumping £4 million into the neighbourhood for a range of improvements.

Tahir Hussain, who serves on a community facilities group in Highfield, accuses the Local Education Authority (LEA) of dragging its heels over the sale of the site.

Mr Hussain, who lives in Edensor Road, close to the former school, said: "Detailed plans have been drawn up for the site and the funding is in place, but the LEA is being totally unco-operative and is delaying the process.

"I regularly see children playing around the old building and running about on the roof. It is only a matter of time before a youngster is seriously injured or killed -- I just hope it does not take a tragedy to spur somebody into action."

His criticism of the council delays is echoed by Councillor Lynne Joyce, chairman of the Highfield SRB committee.

She said the committee, along with Manningham Housing Association, had devised exciting plans for the site.

"The housing association had been offered the land in exchange for a plot in Cartmel Road -- which the LEA wants for a new school -- but when the association learned of our hopes it rejected the idea," said Cllr Joyce.

"However, we do not need the whole site and we entered discussions with the housing association about a joint scheme, which would provide a community centre and appropriate housing on the same site.

"Manningham Housing Association has been great to work with and the Highfield committee has been thorough, thoughtful and totally committed. Together we have come up with wonderful proposals.

"A formal bid has been submitted to the council, but we have heard nothing. There is no movement -- we have just come up against a stone wall.

"It would be a tragedy if the proposals failed to come to anything."

Keighley Fire Station Officer Mick Smith said crews had been called to the site several times in recent months.

Just a couple of hours after last Friday's blaze, firefighters were called back to the scene when a workman attempting to secure the area noticed smoke in a second portable cabin. Burning paper was found inside.

"Most of the fires have been fairly minor but we are becoming increasingly concerned," said Station Officer Smith.

"When we arrived at the initial call on Friday the cabin was well alight. These children are putting themselves in great danger -- if anyone had been trapped, they would not have stood a chance."

Bradford Council's asset management department said the sale of the former Highfield school buildings would be concluded as soon as possible, and in the meantime it urged parents to help ensure their children kept away from the site.

A spokesman said: "The council is in negotiation with all interested parties on this sale and is attempting to reach a conclusion that will be satisfactory to all parties as soon as possible.

"We are planning to demolish the temporary classrooms to improve safety on this site.

"We have boarded up our empty buildings and they are patrolled regularly by security staff, but parents must play their part by ensuring children stay away from them. They are potentially dangerous areas."