Lives are being put at risk because a disused factory is turning into a death-trap, firefighters have warned.

They are frequently called to the derelict Sunblest Bakery in Woodingdean, Brighton.

The rotting buildings are a magnet for youngsters who use the site as an unofficial adventure playground and there are fears there could soon be a tragedy.

Bob Trotter, assistant divisional officer (ADO) of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in Brighton, said: "It is a disaster waiting to happen as far as the children are concerned."

The walls and roofs of the derelict factory are crumbling and the sprawling site is being used as a rubbish dump for scrapped cars, tyres and other fly-tipped refuse.

Mr Trotter said fires in derelict buildings were often left to burn themselves out but, because children might be trapped, the former factory had to be searched each time a blaze was reported.

If the rubbish caught fire it could also spiral out of control and affect nearby residents.

Mr Trotter said: "It is in a residential area and it is a large building. We just can't stand by and let it burn down."

Fences put around the site on several occasions have been ripped down by people intent on dumping rubbish and cars.

Leading firefighter Stephen Andrews, who is based at Roedean fire station which deals with most of the calls, said it was difficult to search the site and dangerous for people inside.

He said: "It is extremely hazardous.

"You could very easily lose someone through a hole in the floor or the roof or a collapse but we would commit people due to the fact that it is an unofficial children's playground."

He said the abandoned cars and rubbish made it difficult to get appliances close to fires or for firefighters to move around the buildings.

He said: "It is a very difficult site for us due to the physical obstructions which are getting worse by the day. More and more stuff is being dumped there.

"There is so much debris, old cars and such like, we can't drive in."

The site, which also includes the former Jaycee Furniture factory, is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council and leased to developer St Modwen.

St Modwen won planning permission for industrial units on part of the site in August but work has not yet started.

Woodingdean councillor Geoff Wells said people living nearby had been concerned about an accident for a long time and the council and developer should act to stop it happening.

He said: "They should take precautions to stop this happening, clear the site and put hoardings around it.

The ball is clearly in St Modwen's court, it is up to them to get their backsides moving."

A council spokesman said: "We have leased the bakery site to developers St Modwen.

"Health and safety law specifically states it is the responsibility of the leaseholder to keep the site safe and we have made this point to them on a number of occasions.

"We are aware that the developers are awaiting the results of a traffic assessment study before considering their next step in developing the site.

"However, it is completely unacceptable for them to use this as an excuse for failing to make the site safe. We have contacted them again today to underline this point."