Youngsters in Arbroath have been warned to stay away from a 19th-century mansion amid fears someone could be killed.
The Elms is on the Scottish Civic Trust’s Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland and the former children’s home has been abused and vandalised over the years.
Police in Arbroath are concerned about the number of youths congregating outside the two-storey A-listed derelict building in Cairnie Road.
They have appealed to parents to discourage their children from frequenting the French Gothic-style property and the area immediately surrounding it.
Ten years ago a Dundee youngster was killed when he fell while playing in a derelict mansion in Angus before it was bulldozed to prevent further tragedies.
A police spokeswoman said: ”While some youngsters might consider it exciting to explore a long-empty property, derelict properties are not playgrounds and can in fact be extremely dangerous.
”Clearly derelict buildings are not maintained in the same fashion as an occupied property, which means that its structure may not be sound.
”When you also factor in what actually might be contained in the building then it is clear that they can be treacherous places to venture into.
”The message to children is clear derelict buildings are not safe. Keep out.”
The Elms is known to have collapsed flooring and to be in a general state of disrepair. It is considered by emergency services to be potentially dangerous.
Angus Council is aware of the condition of the property and says it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent access.
Arbroath councillor Bob Spink said he was very worried but unsurprised to hear of youngsters congregating at the building.
He said: ”If there is a building which has been vacant for a long time there is always a danger they will be used as drinking dens or just for plain mischief.
”When that happens there is also a safety risk so we must look at this again and make it safe and secure as a matter of urgency.
”I think it’s a tragedy that lovely buildings like this have been allowed to deteriorate and it’s something I would desperately like to find an answer to.
”Unfortunately we have been unable to find the finances or a developer to bring it back to useful use, which is a real shame.”
The Elms which was built around 1869 for the mill-owning Corsar family has also been a hotel and used by the war office during its life.
Several years ago Angus Council had to carry out about £20,000 of emergency repairs to make the building safe, wind and watertight after it fell into disrepair.
Plans to convert The Elms into flats were approved in 2004, but proposals to build houses in the grounds were rejected.
Shortly after, the title was transferred to a company with a registered address in the British Virgin Islands, casting doubt on who owns it.
The council served an urgent works notice in a bid to get important fabric repairs done, but no response was forthcoming.
Since then the council has carried out an ongoing search in a bid to find a restoring purchaser for the property.
Anyone with concerns about activity near or within this building is asked to contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222.
An Angus Council spokeswoman said: ”The council continues to monitor this building and instructed contractors to board up a broken window at the premises. In the interests of safety, we would also encourage parents to ensure their children do not enter these premises.”