The Victorian Society, a national heritage group, wants urgent action to save Wapping Road First School.

Closed in 2000, the school was once a leading light in Britain's state education system thanks to the visionary McMillan sisters whose campaign for children's education and health led to a swimming pool being added to the school in 1899.

The Grade II-listed building has been empty for eight years and has suffered extensive damage following a series of arson attacks.

It was bought for conversion into apartments in 2004, but, four years on, plans for this development have yet to be finalised. Meanwhile the school remains empty and vulnerable with its condition worsening by the day.

Sphinx Commercial Ltd, a Bradford-based demolition and refurbishment company, bought the company in 2006. There were plans to create 20 apartments and houses but nothing has happened.

Richard Tinker, of the Victorian Society's West Yorkshire group, said: "Time is running out for the Wapping Road First School. Unless work starts on the building soon, it's hard to see how it will survive.

"A physical record of the development of the modern education system, the building should be a great source of local and national pride. Instead it is being allowed to crumble away.

"Historic schools are durable and versatile buildings that lend themselves to a variety of uses. They can make very desirable living accommodation.

"We urge the owner to work with Bradford City Council to draw up a scheme that will keep this valuable part of Yorkshire's heritage in use and at the heart of its community for many years to come.''

The school's distinguished 123-year history saw it play a leading role in the development of state education, but the school's slate roof has been gutted and most of its interior features destroyed.

Earlier this year Mark Barnes, an assistant manager in Bradford Council's refuse department, photographed the school after being shocked by its state.

At the time he said: "The school is of historical importance to Bradford, but why has it been allowed to get in this state?

"It's a crying shame. There are too many modern buildings which do not have the character this building does. What would Margaret McMillan think?"

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "This is a grade two listed building and the onus is on the owners of the building to keep it a decent state of repair and secure the site.

"In October 2004 the buyers signed an agreement with the council whereby they became responsible for all security matters relating to the site and completed the purchase from the council in March 2006.

"Before that the council had the school boarded up, daily security patrols, welded the access gate closed and blocked off the access road with boulders. It is unfortunate that the new owners' development proposals have not yet come to fruition."

A spokesman for Sphinx said: "We are still negotiating with the council. It's been going on for four years and is now down to the finer details.

"We were hoping that it would have all been decided by now. It's a nice building but it is just sat there doing nothing and we are getting the grief for it.''