A NELSON school plagued by vandalism which has cost between £5,000 and £10,000 a year to repair has been granted permission by the council to erect security fencing and gates.

But headteacher Martin Burgess has said the worst case of vandalism which caused the school to close for a day in October would not have happened if the planning permission had been approved quicker.

Edge End High, in Hibson Lane, was forced to temporarily close in October when yobs smashed windows and ripped tiles from the roof, which subsequently led to heavy rain flooding the corridors of the school and classes being cancelled.

Staff arrived to discover glass panels in the ceiling of a covered walkway had been smashed and windows in the main hall broken. Pupils were sent home for the day as a clear up operation began.

In a bid to prevent vandalism, the school had applied for permission for security fencing and has finally been given the seal of approval to go ahead with installing the new security measures.

Mr Burgess said: "This has been a long standing thing which has been funded partly through a government grant and partly through money we put towards it ourselves. It is part of a whole security package, including CCTV cameras, done on police advice as to the best way of avoiding and preventing very high levels of vandalism which have been holding back our refurbishment of the school.

"It has been held up by the need for planning permission. Had it gone through fairly quickly the last lot of vandalism wouldn't have happened. I am very sad it has taken so long.

"It is also very sad when a school has to have such measures. We want them to have an open and friendly image and security fencing doesn't always give you that but we are determined that the school will still be a friendly and welcoming place despite the fencing and gates."

During the next few weeks the school will undergo a £1million refurbishment, in which the areas damaged by the vandalism and flooding will be restored. Once this has been completed the security fencing will then be put in place.

Mr Burgess said: "If it halves the amount we have been spending on vandalism I am going to be very happy. The cost compares to half a teacher or another set of computers. It's children's' education. I am really really excited about this as it has been a long time coming."