A DERELICT mill in Market Street has been described as a death trap.

Teenagers have been blamed for numerous fires at Albert Mill in recent months and these incidents have led to increased calls for action at Whitworth neighbourhood forums.

Safety fears have now grown with the discovery of canisters – suspected of containing chemical solutions – found dumped inside the entrance. It is understood that police have asked Rossendale Council to make the building secure.

Whitworth neighbourhood beat manager PC John Bailey confirmed that residents were very concerned about the mill.

He said: "It’s a big problem, especially over the issue of kids getting inside and causing fires. It has been accessible from the rear for a while, but now the front entrance has been forced. Since then, it’s also become a dumping ground."

When the Observer inspected the interior of the building, its poor condition was evident. We found unstable floors, dangerous stairways and windows and doors open to the elements. On the fourth floor there was open access to the site below and sheer drops from the lift shafts, which were also unsecured.

PC Bailey described the mill as a ‘danger zone’ and said he feared someone could be killed. He added: "We get calls, as does the fire service, to come here at night. It’s hazardous for us, too."

Empty cans and bottles have been found, which indicate the premises have been used as a drinking den.

The mill, the former Smith’s engineering works, has been empty for over two years.

A Rossendale Council spokesman said: "The council is aware of the issues at the Albert Mill site in Whitworth and is working within the powers available to it (Building Act 1984) to secure the site.

"Structurally, the building is considered to be safe and there is no imminent danger of it collapsing. Nevertheless, the site does need to be secured as a matter of urgency. We believe that any canisters on the site are empty and do not pose a threat to anyone. We served the site owners with a legal notice in early February, giving them 28 days to secure the perimeter of the site. One of the owners has assured us that he is in the process of having the site secured. The two separate owners of the Sunnyside Works part of the site were also served with a legal notice and have arranged for the doors fronting on to Market Street to be boarded up. When we inspected this on Friday 13 February the job was satisfactory. The issue has been made more complex because different people own different part of the site. If the owners fail to secure the site to our satisfaction within 29 days the council will take steps to carry the work out and charge the owners."