CHILDREN are putting their lives at risk by climbing scaffolding in Hereford, a concerned city resident says.

Alastair Knight observed the group of around seven youths climbing the scaffolding surrounding Jacobs Court on Kyrle Street at 6pm on Sunday evening.

"A group of youths on bicycles entered the Baptist Church carpark and proceeded to climb over the wall and onto the scaffolding which surrounds the Jacob's Court lift tower scaffolding," Mr Knight said.

"I could see this clearly from my flat balcony on the first floor of Jacob's Court, and I shouted at them to get down, which they did.

"But I returned to the balcony about 40 minutes later to find they had returned and some had climbed to the top of the scaffolding at a height of at least three storeys.

"I fear that a fall from this height could result in serious injury if not fatality, and would think that the parents of these children should be aware of the risks the are taking."

The council funded scaffolding was put in place after a contract with an estimated total value of £52,800 was agreed some four years ago to protect the dangerous structure previously marketed as high-end city apartments.

Herefordshire Council's register says the contract's purpose is to 'maintain and certificate' the scaffolding at the private sector property.

According to the council's register, the contract has been in place since May 22, 2015 and is expected to last until August 31, 2020.

However, it will be under review again later this month.

“This is an on-going maintenance contract for a scaffold to support Jacobs Court that has been determined to be in a dangerous condition,” the register reads.

“The scaffold was initially erected to make the building safe, and requires monthly maintenance in line with the HSE guidelines.”

The incident follows on from a similar occurrence earlier this month, when children were blamed for causing damage to the walls of the grade II* 14th century Blackfriars Priory in Hereford.

They were photographed atop the ruins by Redhill resident Becky Millman, who said they had laughed at warnings to get down for their own safety.