YOUNGSTERS are being warned of the dangers of playing at Tonedale Mill over the Easter holidays and beyond where they risk serious injury or even worse.

PC Rob Wood, of Wellington Police, said he recently removed three girls aged 12 and 13 from a building at the derelict site and another group of children ran off in the opposite direction.

He added: “I would estimate we get at least 15 to 20 calls a year to the site, from people concerned youths are inside. I think it is only a mater of time before someone is hurt by falling masonry or other dangers on the site.”

PCSO Simon Bramley, from Wellington police station, acknowledged the attractions of the mill buildings to youngsters as a huge playground where they play games like hide and seek.

But he said dangers included glass, timbers, metal and masonry falling from height, hazardous materials– asbestos has been removed in the past – ground giving way, trip and water hazards.

He added: “A child could be killed – it’s that serious. It’s life-threatening.”

PCSO Bramley said fencing around the mill buildings had collapsed completely in places and that where it was intact it could be easily undone. The buildings were only a few hundred metres from The Basins and were next to a play area, and the mill site was therefore a convenient alternative temptation.

Police routinely patrol the site and he said local residents were excellent at informing them if they saw someone going in. He added: “We come down, go inside, we search for the kids. Often we find them, take them out and inform their parents. Every parent I have spoken to has been horrified their kids have been in there. The problem is worse during school holidays, at weekends and when the weather is good.”

PC Wood has recently discussed safety and security at the site with the Wellington One Team.