A campaign has been launched to save a former open air school used to teach children with debilitating illnesses and bring it back into community use.

The former Western Park Open Air School in the city, was classified as a Grade II- listed building by English Heritage when it closed in 2005.

It has remained unused ever since.

The school was opened in 1930 for children with debilitating illnesses, including tuberculosis, and was based on a idea that clean air and good food would help heal respiratory conditions.

Pupils spent as much time as possible doing outdoor activities, including sleeping in the playground every afternoon.

It became a special school run by Leicester City Council, closing in 2005.

Now Glynn Finney,40, the former school’s historian, has launched an online petition to preserve the site.

Mr Finney, of Braunstone Town, who was a pupil there from 1979 to 1992, and has serious lung problems, said: “The site is grade II-listed by English Heritage as a school which embodies the progressive medical and educational ideas of the period.

“It is 10 years since this school was closed by Leicester City Council and for 10 years it has been left to deteriorate.”

He added: ” We, the former pupils and staff, pride ourselves in being the guardians of this site with the aim of preserving it for future generations.

“We are looking for support in asking our City Mayor to preserve the site and buildings as well as the history of the school by repairing the damaged buildings and re-opening it as a place for the local community and young people to meet.

“It may also provide an opportunity to open a cafe, as somewhere that the local community can meet together.”

He added: “Restoring, maintaining and managing the site could also prevent further attacks of vandalism on this unique, historic educational establishment.”

City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby said: “I would love to see the Western Park Open Air School brought back into use. It is a listed building, so it has not been easy to find anybody to take it on.

“It really needs somebody from outside to come in and do it, as there’s no realistic prospect of the council being able to do anything with it. The school is across the number of different buildings which would not easily covert into a café or council use.

“We have been actively marketing the site, and I’d be delighted to hear any proposals to provide a sustainable use for it.”

To sign the petition visit www.wpoaspetition.uk