Renewed calls have been made to do something with an old school which has sat empty for more than 20 years and fallen foul of vandals and squatters.

The former St Matthew’s C of E Infants School in Borstal has been trashed over the years and is now deemed unsafe and dangerous.

Urban explorers who previously gained entry to the dilapidated shell took pictures of rubbish strewn everywhere, graffiti daubed over the walls and some poignant shots of children’s old exercise books.

They described it as a “very dangerous place with an eerie vibe to it”.

And although the owner who purchased the historic building at auction in 2007 visits to ensure it is secure, youths are still breaking in and wreaking havoc.

Residents have spotted them climbing on the roof and hurling tiles to the ground.

Homeless people have used it as a roof over their heads, leaving a trail of destruction and debris including broken glass and beer cans.

In the past arsonists have struck several times, twice causing severe fire damage to the collapsed ceiling and overall structure of the school perched on a hill in Borstal Street.

In 2012 and 2017 two major blazes were reported where fire crews spent hours putting out rubbish which had been ignited.

Police have also been called after reports of anti-social behaviour.

KentOnline has now managed to track down the owner Mohammed Tarik Ali, an Essex-based property investor, who said he bought it at auction for around £300,000.

Mr Tarik Ali said he had put in several planning applications to transform the building into residential housing, but they had all been turned down.

The businessman’s latest proposal is to turn it into a school for special needs children, although as yet he has not formally submitted his plans to Medway Council.

He now wants to convert it into a school for special needs children - although he has yet to submit a formal application to the local authority.

The 66-year-old believes the building, which has an annexe opposite, could accommodate up to 40 youngsters from the age of three.

Mr Tarik Ali said he was aware of the state of the derelict building and that it would take a considerable sum to bring it up to standard.

Meanwhile, Cllr Linda Bowen, a ward councillor who lives in the Borstal area, is calling for “something to be done with it”.

”It’s a lovely building and it’s heartbreaking to see it in this condition,” she said.

“This has been on my radar even before I was made a councillor.

“I have been liaising with our planning department and listened to the concerns of residents.

“I just want something done with it. At the moment it is dangerous as youths are still getting in.”

Speaking earlier this week, one resident, who did not wish to named, said: “About five of them were up on the roof the other day ripping off tiles.

“It’s so dangerous. In some ways, I hope a nasty accident will happen so something can be done about it.

“They need cameras there so the police can nab them.”

On the proposals mooted for it, the mum added: “Personally, I think a special needs school is a brilliant idea. We need more places for children like that.

“And anything is better than it being empty. But there’s always going to be a problem with parking and access.”

A spokesman for Medway Council said the authority’s planning department was involved in ongoing discussions with the owner and in particular concerning properly maintaining the building and options for redevelopment.

There are currently no live applications for the property.

In its heyday, the school had a capacity for up to 135 boys and girls from the age of five.

It closed in 2005 when it merged with Borstal Manor Junior School to form the Pilgrim School in Warwick Crescent.

The building was auctioned in 2007 and is owned by the London investment firm Rose Properties.