A head teacher fears security at his school is being compromised by a long-running row between the site's former caretaker and Bradford Council.

Paul Richardson, head teacher of Sandal Primary School, Baildon, is calling for the dispute between Alwyne Clapham and Bradford Council to be resolved as soon as possible.

As previously reported in the Telegraph & Argus, Mr Clapham, 51, is refusing to quit the bungalow he and his wife Marilyn have lived in for the past 17 years.

He was caretaker at Belmont Middle School - a job which included on-site accommodation - but it has ceased to exist under Bradford's education shake-up.

Sandal Primary moved on to the site at the start of this term along with all its staff, including caretaker Phil Whitrick.

Although the bungalow is tied to the job and his contract ended on August 31, Mr Clapham - still employed by the Council but on a register of staff who are surplus to requirements - is refusing to leave until he gets an acceptable compensation package or a similar permanent post, with accommodation, in the area.

The Claphams say they are prepared to force the Council to take eviction proceedings if necessary and that if that happens the bailiffs will have to drag them out.

In the meantime Mr Whitrick and his wife, Renee, are having to live off-site in temporary accommodation.

Mr Richardson said: "That is causing us a problem in terms of security. Although the Claphams are still living here we are concerned there's nobody working for the school to patrol and 'baby-sit' the site through the night and at other times when we're not there, such as weekends and holidays.

"We want someone living in that house who's working for us, and at the moment we haven't got anyone.''

Mr Richardson said the situation was also having an affect on staff morale.

He said a meeting with the council had been requested by the school's governing body to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile Mr Clapham, who is currently off work with stress, said he was becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We're not looking to take any legal action at this stage but are still discussing the matter with Mr Clapham and looking for a solution.''