KEEP away from dangerous abandoned buildings, is the message to curious youngsters from police.

A warning has been issued after Durham Constabulary noticed an increase in the number of young people exploring derelict properties around the force area.

According to Darlington officers, some students caught trespassing have explained away their actions by claiming that they are working on school or college projects.

Others have admitted to accessing abandoned buildings for fun or in order to take pictures.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Police urged parents and teachers to speak to children and young people about the dangers of trespassing into properties that may be in a poor state of repair.

She said: “It has come to our attention recently that more and more young people are frequenting abandoned buildings.

“Please note that these buildings are unsafe and people should not be going inside.

“The buildings all still have owners and although they may be derelict, it is still trespassing to enter without permission.

“Can we please ask that parents and teachers speak with children about this and emphasise the dangers they could face entering a building that is not looked after.”

A growth in the popularity of urban exploration – which sees photographers and others access abandoned buildings and places to document the decay of sites at risk of “being lost forever” – may also be linked to the issue.

Safety advice from seasoned urban explorers documenting their activities through various online forums includes warnings to ‘tread carefully’, to always be aware of the structural condition of a property, to wear appropriate safety gear and to avoid climbing structurally unsound elements of a building, such as staircases and roofs.