Tens of thousands of children are being condemned to studying in dilapidated school buildings because of government delays in providing the funding earmarked to fix them, local government leaders are warning.

New research by the Local Government Association (LGA) shows that nine months after funding was announced to rebuild 261 of the country's most run-down schools many head teachers are still unaware of when they will see work begin.

Many others have been told that contracts for building work are unlikely to be awarded until 2015, meaning work is unlikely to be completed until at least 2016, six years after the £2 billion building scheme was first announced.

A number of councils, which are already under intense pressure after a 32 per cent reduction in education funding, now say they have been left with bills of tens of thousands of pounds or more to fund the bare minimum work needed to keep these schools open until vital work begins.

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This includes carrying out urgent roof repairs, repairing heating systems, removing asbestos and fixing dangerous wiring work.

Devon County Council has estimated it will need to spend £2.5 million on "urgent health and safety works" for eight of its schools that are due to receive Priority School Building funding, while North Lincolnshire has already had to spend £1.4 million on maintenance works in 2011/12.

Suffolk County Council has spent £1.1 million on essential works for the two worst school buildings in the county. Bury Council has set aside a £2 million contingency from its emergency fund to cover the potential cost of essential repairs at three of its schools while it awaits news on essential Government support.

Council leaders are now voicing concerns about delays to the programme, which mean tens of thousands of school children could be left studying in schools, categorised as being some of the most run-down in the country, with problems such as leaky school roofs, drafty windows, inadequate toilet facilities, substandard kitchens and outdated security.

The LGA is now calling on Government to get on with the job of awarding contracts so substandard schools can be rebuilt more quickly and councils and head teachers can ensure children have good quality, safe and hygienic classrooms.

(CD)