SECURITY was not operating on a former hospital site which has been destroyed by a wilful fire, it has been claimed.

Derelict buildings which form part of the old Stobhill Hospital were set alight on Tuesday evening.

Police are now hunting those responsible, while local politicians have slammed the lack of a ‘robust’ approach to dealing with the site.

A staff nurse from the existing Stobhill Hospital has claimed that no manned security has been present on the site for a ‘long period of time’ and only CCTV was in operation at the time of the fire.

Read more: Stobhill hospital blaze 'lucky' not to have struck working facility, say investigators

The lack of monitoring has allowed for several acts of trespassing and vandalism to take place.

As previously reported by the Evening Times, a group of children were left terrified after finding what appeared to be a dead baby used for training purposes in the former building.

Paul Sweeney MP for Glasgow North East has called for action to be taken to stop the site falling into disrepair or being completely demolished.

He said: “This fire could have been damaged or put the new hospital out of operation.

“It seemed like they were asking staff to police the place themselves which is lacklustre and driven by cost cutting.

Read more: Stobhill hospital blaze 'lucky' not to have struck working facility, say investigators

“The buildings on the site have been derelict for four years now, there’s no strategy to deal with them despite the fact there three listing buildings inside.

“The rest is not listed but are of historic significance and people would like to see the buildings used.”

He added: “We want to see what could happen to the site rather than having it all knocked down.

“It’s a shame really given it was one of the most historic hospitals in Glasgow.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have determined that the decommissioned buildings will be demolished following a full structural safety survey.

The listed clock tower and front management building, which sustained minor damage, will be preserved.

A spokesman for the health board added: "We would like to reassure Mr Sweeney that the decommissioned buildings on the old Stobhill part of the site have been prioritised for a phased demolition programme.

"Unfortunately the buildings have been targeted on a number of occasions by local youths who have caused sustained damage.

"We have been working closely with Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on how we protect these buildings from further damage and fire until the buildings are demolished.

Read more: Stobhill hospital blaze 'lucky' not to have struck working facility, say investigators

"We have taken a range of measures including strengthening fencing and increasing manned security which is on site 24/7.  We have also increased our CCTV detection across the campus to allow us to respond immediately to any potential issues.

"The fire is being treated as wilful and Police Scotland is appealing for witnesses to come forward."

Police Scotland has asked anyone with information to contact Maryhill CID via 101, quoting incident number 3003 of Tuesday July 2018 31.

Alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS can be contacted on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.