A HEADTEACHER is pleading with vandals to leave his primary school alone after it was attacked 24 times in six months.

Stephen Bibby's appeal to local troublemakers comes after the vandals caused damaged to Woodnook Primary School, Hudson Street, Accrington, three times in a week.

He says the continual damage is distressing staff and pupils, with vital cash from the school's budget being used to pay for the repairs instead of being spent on the children's education.

The 24 incidents, including yobs daubing walls with graffiti, damaging roof tiles by running across the roof, and, more recently, smashing windows, have been reported to the police.

In the latest attacks, police believe someone has been using a large catapult to fire bricks through windows.

The school estimates the cost of the damage so far this year runs into thousands of pounds.

Mr Bibby said: "It is very upsetting for everyone at the school when something like this happens, and it is very frustrating that it is happening so often.

"The damage caused disrupts the school and the attacks are so mindless. There is no point in doing it.

"Ultimately, the money spent repairing the damage caused is money which could have been spent improving the school for the children."

He added: "I am sure it will happen again. I hope, this time, residents actually make the effort to report the crimes if they see them being committed."

PC Gary Crowe, one of two beat officers for the area, said: "We have made inquiries about who is doing this but we have very few leads to work on.

"This week's attacks are particularly worrying for us because someone is actually using a catapult to fire at the school.

"We need to find out who they are and would appeal to residents to give us any information they might have."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Accrington Police on 01254 382141.

Children living near to a school hit by arsonists last weekend are being interviewed by police as they try to find out who started the blaze.

One classroom at Spring Hill County Primary School was destroyed in the Sunday evening fire.

DS Mark Rothwell from Accrington CID said: "We are interviewing local children who may have seen something in a bid to establish the circumstances surrounding the blaze. ANGER: Caretaker Stephen Caine inspects the damage