Vandals are 'dicing with death' by smashing windows and breaking into one of Southampton’s former landmarks.

The iconic and now derelict Bargate Shopping Centre is being treated as a private playground by vandals, ahead of its planned demolition.

Bottles of alcohol, fragments of smashed glass and beer cans have been found, with five of the old centre’s windows being shattered.

The owners of the building are now putting in place 24-hour security and placing guard dogs on site in an attempt to tackle the vandals.

Since it closed, reports have surfaced of youths using the centre for free-running and parkour.

Heavy cinder blocks have also been pictured in the road beneath the building as the trespassers disregard the danger of the building which first opened 28 years ago.

The building is owned by Bargate Property Ltd, who labelled the break-ins as frustrating and dangerous.

James Burchell, on behalf of the owning company, said: "The site is unsafe and closed to the public as part of a long-term development plan that will regenerate this part of the city.

"The breaking and entering into the former shopping centre is both increasingly frustrating and incredibly dangerous. We are in the process of installing CCTV on the roof and will have 24 hour security and guard dogs on site.

"Going forward we will be taking a stronger stance and anyone caught or recorded trespassing will be prosecuted."

The Bargate Shopping Centre is to be demolished to make way for a terraced garden street that will see the 12th century Bargate monument linked to Queensway after city planners approved a multi-million-pound redevelopment earlier this year.

Freemantle-based free runner Danny Morgan has said that he can see the attraction to the vacant building, but doesn’t think those who use it for parkour are the biggest issue.

Danny, 24, said: “It’s human nature to be curious about it as it’s been shut for a long time, but when I’ve seen videos posted online about people free running through it, you can see people sat in there smoking, and it’s all smashed up inside.

“The destroying of property is the biggest problem for the centre. Real free runners are at training areas pushing themselves to the limit, not jumping into the Bargate.”

Police have also sought to highlight the dangers of the vacant building, insisting trespassers are putting themselves at risk of a serious injury.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “These sites are full of hazards and anyone trespassing on these structures or in these areas are putting themselves at risk of serious injury.

“Often, damage has been caused when people have trespassed. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the risks of entering vacant buildings and construction sites.”

Community leaders have also voiced their disdain at the criminal activity.

Bargate ward councillor John Noon said: “This sort of vandalism is dangerous to both the people doing it and to pedestrians. We need to see if we can get this building more secure until it is demolished.

“I have no idea how the people have got in to the centre – as far as I know, the building is locked up.”

City councillor Don Thomas said: “People are dicing with death and risking tragedy by taking part in these activities. I'm so sad to hear about the building in this state.

“If something did happen along those lines, it would be terrible for the community and the families involved. The management company are right to take a firm stance.”