An abandoned and boarded up Army barracks surrounded by razor wire has become a dumping ground for burnt-out cars.

About half a dozen vandalised vehicles have been left at the disused Preston Barracks in Lewes Road, Brighton, even though the gates to the property are locked.

Now there are fears that children scaling the wire are putting themselves at risk by playing in the wrecked cars.

The former military base, which was most recently used as a Territorial Army centre, is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Brighton and Hove City Council and the police have responsibility for removing abandoned cars from the streets but on private property the onus falls on the landowner to inform the authorities.

A council spokeswoman said: "We do remove vehicles from private land with written permission from the landowner to do so.

"We are investigating complaints about abandoned cars at the barracks and are working with the barracks to get them removed."

A police spokeswoman said abandoned vehicles could become dangerous playgrounds for youngsters.

But she said it would not be right to comment on the dangers presented at the barracks or its security arrangements.

The Ministry of Defence hopes to sell the site in the coming months and the new owners will assume responsibility for security and the dumped cars.

The city council was negotiating with the MoD to buy part of the site for industrial and commercial uses, as well as housing.

A spokesman for the MoD estates department said: "We are in the final stages of disposing of the site and are looking to close the deal within a couple of months.

"It will then be for the new owners to deal with as they will, in line with local planning requirements."

The barracks were built in 1785 but parts have gradually been sold off during the past 30 years.

The former Brighton Council wanted the land for affordable housing and some was created at the southern end of the 20-acre site.

The Pavilion retail park was also built, housing stores including Halfords and B&Q.

In 1999, the Territorial Army unit based at the remainder of the barracks disbanded and the MoD has since been trying to sell the property.