EMPTY Victorian building The Mechanics' Institute has been placed on another at-risk register.

The listed boarded-up institute, pictured, stands in Swindon's Emlyn Square.

Now building conservation charity the Victorian Society has named the building as one of the country's 10 most endangered buildings.

It has been on English Heritage's at-risk register since 1999.

"The treatment of the Swindon Mechanics' Institute is shocking," said Dr Ian Dungavell, director of the Victorian Society.

"The building is a regional landmark as well as a significant piece of national heritage and yet it has been left to rot.

"The council must take action to save the institute before this historical and architectural gem is lost for good.

"Often the hardest buildings to protect are those that are simply locked up and left, like the Mechanics' Institute."

Campaign group The New Mechanics' Trust is fighting to preserve the building for a community use, while owner Mathew Singh wants to develop a hotel on the site.

His most recent plan involved demolishing part of the Grade II* Listed building.

But planners dismissed the scheme because it involved knocking down the north side of the building.

Since then the future of the building has been in limbo.

Last month, Mr Singh made an impassioned plea for the council's planning officers to help him draw up plans suitable to the council and English Heritage.

Daniel Rose, chairman of The New Mechanics' Trust, said: "The Victorian Society's decision will create some publicity for us and for the issue.

"Part of our struggle has been being heard and understood.

"My hope is that by the Victorian Society getting involved and putting the Mechanics' building on its list, the council will sit up and think.

"It will start to say maybe we should have a more serious conversation with the trust'.

"The owner of this building is in a corner.

"And it isn't the responsibility of the council to bail him out by letting him do something unacceptable.

"The Victorian Society's decision pushes him further into that corner."

Mr Singh was unavailable for comment.