PARENTS are being urged to keep their children away from a derelict building which was badly damaged in an arson attack on Friday.

Since the former Labour Club in Bridgeman Street, Great Lever, shut several months ago it has become a target for vandals.

Firemen have been repeatedly called to the boarded up single storey building after children have broken in and started fires.

Yesterday, furniture was piled up in one of the main rooms and set alight just before 4pm. It took fire crews nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control.

The building is being boarded up again but firemen fear children will still find a way in and be unable to escape if another arson attack occurs.

"It is now very unsafe. Children might think they can get out only to find the door they thought was open is boarded up," said fireman David Fraser-Jones.