POLICE and a headteacher have warned youngsters they are risking their lives after the latest vandalism attacks on Darwen schools.

Darwen Vale High School, Blackburn Road, and Avondale County Primary, Durham Road, both had windows smashed with children the main suspects.

And this comes after Geoff Tennant, the headmaster at Avondale, sent out hundreds of letters to parents at the end of June warning that if their children were caught they would have to foot the bill.

But it seems the children have ignored the warnings and are still running wild.

On Tuesday youths smashed eight windows at Darwen Vale High School and five youths were seen running on the roof of Avondale Primary School before smashing a window, but fled after the fire alarm was set off.

Police sergeant Andrea Bradbury said: "These people are seriously risking their lives by causing this kind of damage and they also risk prosecution as a result of their acts.

"If anybody has any seen anything please contact us. We would like to hear from anybody who lives around the school who have information as to who is responsible. "As police officers we find the cost of the amount of damage to schools during the holidays is a waste of money. They could spend that money elsewhere.

"Parents should know where there children are at all times, particularly if there are hanging around school buildings. They are dangerous places and we all have a real duty to protect schools from vandalism. They are part of our community."

Tania Lewyckyj, Darwen Vale's deputy head, said that the building was having a lot of renovations at the moment and that the building was a danger to children.

She added: "We had eight windows smashed on the New Block on the outskirts of our premises. I don't know how much it will cost to fix. We are having building work done at the moment and it is a danger for children to be on the site.

"We have staff all summer during the day so it is not a problem then, it is the evenings. It is unusual for us to be targeted. There is usually little vandalism here normally. I came from Salford where there was a lot and it was refreshing to be here.

"I would advise parents always to know where there kids are and for anyone who saw something to get in touch with the police and report it."