YOUTHS hanging out in a derelict Keighley house are causing misery for the kitchen company next door, say the company’s owners.

Pineoakio regularly suffers vandalism from teenagers able to access the firm’s car park via an access road shared with the house.

In the latest incident a fortnight ago youths set light to Pineoakio’s skip in the car park behind the premises on Parkwood Street.

UPDATE: Plans to demolish 'yob magnet' derelict house

In recent months there has also been an attempted break-in, graffiti scrawled on windows and doors, fly-tipping, and skip rubbish strewn across the car park.

Stacey Bower, who runs Pineoakio with husband Michael, said that in some cases the company’s CCTV cameras had filmed the same youths trespassing into the grounds of the neighbouring house.

In addition the car park is often used by builders dumping waste, and by others raiding the skip for scrap metal.

Councillor Doreen Lee (Lab, Keighley East) said she would visit Pineoakio to talk through the Bowers’ problems, and work with her ward colleagues Malcolm Slater and Caroline Firth to take action.

She said: “We will do all we can to make sure the perpetrators are dealt with.”

Pineoakio has had its workshop and shop in Parkwood Street for the past seven years, making kitchen and bespoke furniture.

Mrs Bower said the company’s CCTV cameras regularly caught children or teenagers passing their premises to get into the grounds of the derelict house.

She said: “The car park is ours but there’s a right of way for the residential property. Things have steadily got worse over the last three or four years.

“The house seems to attract youngsters. They are seen constantly going in and out. Last year they tried to set it on fire. I’ve asked the Council to board it up. It’s not been lived in for lots of years and the walls are falling down.”

The Bowers have also reported incidents to the police, passing on CCTV footage whenever possible, and they are regularly visited by a PCSO.

Bradford Council said it had been encouraging the house’s owners to secure or develop it for some time.

A spokesperson said: “However, due to the nature of the ownership we are unable to take legal action against them.We have a policy of charging owners of empty properties a premium of 150% council tax to encourage them to bring sites back into use.

“The Council will continue to work with the proprietors and have advised them to speak to our planning department about suitable uses and help them make the site productive again.”

West Yorkshire Police confirmed the latest incident had been recorded as a crime of arson, and that inquiries were continuing.