THE former tax office in Barrow is attracting vandals who have been using the building's windows as target practice, video footage shows.

Staff at Barrow Borough Council say they have reported seeing youths damage and break into the building, by the Schneider Square roundabout, seven times in the past month.

Town hall employees say that by the time police are able to come out, the youths have long gone.

Many of the building's windows have been smashed and it is clear that access has been gained.

The ground floor of the block is accessible via the rooftop car park which is visible by staff working in Barrow Town Hall.

A spokesman for Cumbria police said: "We are aware of issues at the old tax office at Furness House. The building is independently owned and currently insecure, which is leading to a number of young people gaining entry.

"We are working with partners, including the borough council, in an effort to find a solution to this issue, including looking at ways to prevent access to the site.

"Whilst we continue to seek a solution, we would also urge parents to speak to their children if they suspect they are involved in illegally accessing this building.

"Attempting to gain access to this building is very unsafe and we would urge parents to warn their children of the dangers posed."

Back in 2011, London-based developer Denbrook Ltd, which owns Furness House, obtained planning permission to convert the building into a 64-bedroom hotel.

Approval for those plans was renewed in 2015 and is still in date. It is not known why the development has not started.

It is understood that the council's environmental health department is set to board up the windows on the bottom floors of the building to prevent any further disorder or risks to the public.

The bills for the boarding-up will be forwarded onto the building's owners.

The building is available to rent through estate agents Eckersley at a rate of £7 per square foot – see the listing HERE .

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