A SCHOOL has resorted to six-metre high security camera masts in a bid to protect its premises from vandals.

St Barnabas and St Paul's CE Primary School in Oakenhurst Road, Blackburn, wants the go-ahead to install the very best in security which would provide 24-hour cover.

Head teacher Elaine Smith said the governors had agreed to the "substantial cost" to try and put an end to vandalism problems.

An application has been made to Blackburn with Darwen Council to erect three masts on the Oakenhurst Road site. Mrs Smith, head for six years, said: "Over the years we have paid out lots of money on replacing broken windows and dealing with the effects of vandalism. At Christmas two CCTV cameras, one of which was brand new, were ripped down by vandals. We were thinking of putting in a new system but that was the final straw.

"We also suffered with youths hanging out near the playground and leaving smashed glass that we had to sweep up every morning to make the area safe.

"The problems were reduced after we installed CCTV cameras about three years ago as the word of mouth spread round the area but it is not as efficient as this system."

Nearby Higher Croft Primary School in Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn, has also been plagued by graffiti-spraying vandals.

Wendy Eastham, community beat manager for Higher Croft and Longshaw, said: "It is the areas the schools are in and the lack of the support from the community that contributes to vandalism.

"Some schools are overlooked by cameras but people are not willing to give names of culprits to the police. These schools tend to be close to older people's homes and they don't often like to get involved because they are frightened.

"It all comes down to money of course and I appreciate that but I have been asking for shutters on all school windows for years. Schools need to take responsibility for their buildings and they can do this by putting up lighting, cameras and decent sensing equipment."

Peter Morgan, the council's director of education and lifelong learning, said: "We would appeal to parents to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing outside school hours, particularly during the summer holidays. Money spent repairing vandalism can be far better spent in the classroom."