Yobs running amok at a derelict secondary school, including one armed with a hatchet, have been captured on camera - days after a suspicious fire at the building.

Firefighters have tackled a spate of suspected arson attacks at St John Fisher School in Chatham since it was vacated more than three years ago.

After the latest incident over the weekend, reporters from KentOnline and our television channel, KMTV, spoke to residents living near the empty building in Ordnance Street, which has been a sitting target for vandals.

While on the scene, they witnessed at least half a dozen youths clambering onto the roof, running and screaming along corridors, peering out of smashed windows and hurling obscenities when they spotted our cameras.

One was seen carrying a hatchet upstairs, leading to the roof, and another a spray can as they lobbed large objects, making crashing sounds in abandoned classrooms.

People living in the neighbourhood seemed unfazed by their reckless behaviour, having got used to police and fire crews being called out to the school at all hours to deal with incidents.

But they fear the dangers the teenagers are subjecting themselves to and say a serious or even fatal accident is “just waiting to happen”.

The Catholic comprehensive has remained empty since it closed in February 2022, along with its lower school in Maidstone Road, Chatham.

Pupils relocated to a single multi-purpose campus at the bottom of City Way in Rochester.

It was bought by Eutopia Homes and is earmarked for demolition to make way for 139 homes. The developer is currently awaiting a decision from the government before work on the 77 houses and 62 flats can start.

But people living nearby believe the sooner the housing project gets the go-ahead, the better.

Trevor Worsell, 69, who has lived in the road for 20 years, said: “Pull it down before they burn it down.

“And then get building houses to make it safer.”

Nora Tierney, who lives in nearby Perry Street, said: “You see kids there all the time. Nobody is patrolling the place, and it’s easy for them to get in.”

The 69-year-old added: “All it will take is for one of them to lean on a window, and that will be it.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Martin Bowman, 53, said it was likely there was asbestos in the 1960s-built school and felt the youths were probably unaware of the dangers of the toxic substance.

Dhanlaxmi Desai added: “It’s just wrong. It’s been going on for too long.

“It was better when it was a school. I know children muck around, but there's not as much trouble as we have now.

“It’s not safe.”

Saturday's incident at about 6.30pm, attended by six fire engines, was the second in a month.

No injuries were reported, and it’s believed to have been started deliberately.

Crews were stood down just an hour later.

At the beginning of the month, two teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of arson and several roads were closed after a blaze broke out in one of the buildings.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, they were later released without charge.

Six fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms attended and were joined by police and ambulance crews.

A cordon was set up around the area while firefighters battled the blaze, and onlookers and those living nearby were warned to keep their windows closed.

It took about four hours to get it under control, and it was declared safe in the early hours of the morning.

An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with relevant information to assist inquiries should contact Kent Police on 01634 792209 quoting 46/76388/25.

The fire service said it has been called out to the site on multiple occasions and these include call-outs we have reported on in October 2023 involving 40 firefighters and in June and August last year.

A spokesman for the service said: “We are actively working closely with schools, local authorities, and emergency services across Kent and Medway to raise awareness of the dangers of entering derelict buildings.

“Public safety is the most important aspect of our work, and everyone has a role in making our county safer. Remember, it is simply not safe to enter a derelict building, and doing so may put yourself and others at risk.

“If you see people in derelict buildings, please alert Kent Police immediately.”

Eutopia Homes has been approached for comment.