A PRIVATE school has been given permission to erect gates at its entrance in a bid to keep vandals out.

And governors at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, have also pledged to ease congestion problems outside their school by creating a new drop-off point for parents taking youngsters to the school.

Councillors gave permission for the projects -- which affect the Dukes Brow entrance to the school, used by pupils aged four to 11 -- after hearing from Ian Barker, who appeared on behalf of the school's governors.

He said both the new drop-off point and the gates were essential to improve the school.

He said: "The school is suffering vandalism in the form of broken windows, roof lights and tiles are also being smashed.

"The provision of additional gates will assist with school security while also improve the character and appearance of the school as a result."

Talking about the need for the drop-off point, he said: "The absence of any pedestrian crossing and a pavement on one side of what is a very narrow road places pupils, as they cross between parked cars, in jeopardy. The provision of the off-road drop-off area will reduce this risk."