WORK is finally getting underway on a derelict pub which has blighted an infant and junior school.

Staff at Christ Church Woodhouse School have raised concerns that pupils’ safety was put at risk by the condition of the Woolpack on Deighton Road.

Over the course of four years, the abandoned pub, which residents say was a magnet for crime when it was open, has attracted arsonists and seen a number of break-ins. Fears have also grown over unsecured trap doors to the cellars at the back of the property which could attract inquisitive youngsters.

Now builders have arrived at the site.

They say work is being undertaken to secure the building ahead of an application to convert it into offices.

Melvin Wade has been caretaker at the school for eight years. He said: “The biggest concern has been the safety of the children, the trap door to the cellar is heavy and if one of them got down there they wouldn’t get out until they were found.

“I think the people from Environmental Health have been in contact with the owners and asked them to make it safe.

“They are going to put scaffold up to create a dormer roof but that would be on the access road to the school, and we’ve told them they can’t put it where children would have to walk underneath.

“It’s a shame that when you direct people to the school you have to use it as a signpost – ‘look for the derelict pub’, it’s not the greatest invitation.

“The lady next door to the pathway plants flowers all up the side and it looks very attractive, but its spoiled by this eyesore next door.”

The roof of the property has collapsed in several places and builders at the site told the Examiner that there had been a number of arson attacks inside the building. Ashbrow councillor Ken Smith said: “The state of it is a shame because it was a nice building, but it’s fairly typical of what’s been going on in the pub industry which was hit early by the recession and the high cost of beer.

“Because of the damage to the building I don’t think I would be very concerned if it was got rid of as long as a good use was found for the site.” A spokeswoman for the council said there was no current planning application submitted.