WATCH: Nairn Academy 'like a third world shanty town'

Nairn Academy's parent council's demanding a new school to replace the ageing building a teacher describes as 'like a third world shanty town.'

Photos given exclusively to MFR News reveal the scale of "disintegration" including roof and radiator leaks, along with holes in walls and ceilings.

Pupils at the Highland Council run educational facility are telling MFR News that among over £4MILLION-worth of maintenance issues, they're worried about the presence of asbestos.

Alastair Mair, 14, told us: "The walls and the doors are almost disintegrating at this point now, and there's asbestos in the rooves.

"If there's any rainy day, it doesn't really matter if it's poor weather or if it's just a little rain, but it's so poor that there are constant leaks.

"There are holes in the walls that are covered with A4 bits of paper.

"It's just quite disappointing that this is the standard of the school, because we do have really quality teachers in this school, but they need the resources to teach us better, and they just don't have that."

LISTEN: News reader John Rose brings you our reporter Bryan Rutherford's extended report in the 1pm bulletin on MFR 2...

"There are holes in the walls that are covered with A4 bits of paper" - PUPIL

It's emerged that the academy's been leaking since at least 1977. SNP opposition councillor Liz MacDonald told MFR News: "I was a student here in the second year of it being opened, and in that year there were leaking rooves, so from the very beginning it's had problems."

Independent councillor Laurie Fraser added: "Due to the building materials, the way that it was built, and the quality of build wasn't that great, we've got problems with leaking rooves and radiators.

"Other systems in the school have started failing.

"It's about time that we had a new school."

WATCH: our full video report...

The local authority is currently deciding its next capital spending plan which the administration will present to councillors for approval on March 8th.

Among the proposals 'very important projects...including new school buildings' will be announced, although leaders of the local government for the Highlands remain tight-lipped about which communities may benefit most from well over £50MILLION in new investment.

Mark Gunn from Nairn Academy's parent council told MFR News: "Many areas are just beyond economic repair.

"You're talking probably £2-3MILLION just to fix the single-glazed windows and the leaking roof, and it would just be a complete waste of money to throw more at something which had a 25-year design life when it was build in 1976.

"It's now getting on for 42-years-old. It's dead. It needs to be replaced.

"We're not unrealistic about asking the councillors to make a difficult decision, but they need to, because they've put this off.

"Ten years ago we were promised a new school. It was on the plan, and then it disappeared. So we have a reasonable expectation for them to get on with it and deliver."

Cllr MacDonald added: "From a 2012 report there was over £4MILLION-worth of work that was identified to be done within 10-years. I don't think any of it's been done."

WATCH: hear more from pupils who say enough's enough, and see more of the photos...

"If there's any rainy day, it doesn't really matter if it's poor weather or if it's just a little rain, but it's so poor that there are constant leaks" - PUPIL

In a statement from the administration it's claimed: 'The council is currently reviewing its capital programme, the outcome of which should confirm a capital investment plan for the next five-years.

'Investment in Nairn Academy (and other Highland schools) is being considered as part of that process.'

MFR News has requested an interview with the coalition's budget leader, independent councillor Alister Mackinnon, but our newsroom has not yet received a response.

Also on MFR News this week, a Dingwall special needs school has hit the headlines after concerns over the so-called "horrific" condition of the building, which led to a visit from Scotland's Children's Minister, who's now calling on the council to review its spending priorities and keep kids' rights to education in mind. CLICK HERE for more.