A COUNCILLOR is warning that plans to put solar panels on schools could attract vandals.

Education chiefs are trying to find an affordable way of ditching traditional forms of heating water in favour of solar power.

Schools look favourite to benefit from the scheme but there have now been calls for extra security to protect expensive panels.

Lancashire County Council's only Green Party councillor, Coun Jonathan Sears, had tabled a motion calling for the authority to seek funding to give out grants to people whose homes were suitable for solar power. A similar scheme has been run in Calderdale where people have been awarded £700 to help cover the cost of having a solar panel installed.

Normally the cost is £2,200.

County Coun Tony Martin, in charge of finance at the county council, said: "We are looking now at a system which would enable us to heat water in schools or education buildings.

"When I first heard about solar power for us I thought it would be fine if we were in Spain or the south of France where they have 300 clear days of sunshine a year.

"But if they can do it in Kirklees then there is no reason why we can't do it here, in any building."

But County Coun Bernard Whittle said: "While I am all in favour of going green, we must be practical. Our schools are already often vandalised and, surely, solar panels would be an ideal target.

"If they survive their 20 year life-span, then great, but it will need extra security."

A spokesman for the county council said plans were still at an early stage with costings.