POLICE in Leyland are to get tough with bored vandals who cause thousands of pounds-worth of damage to local schools.

Almost every school in the town has suffered at the hands of vandals during the long summer holiday.

But, for the first time, local schools have given their permission for anyone caught on their property to be prosecuted by the police.

Police hope the new strategy - codenamed Operation Cane - should save schools thousands of pounds.

Inspector Marc Vincent, of Leyland Police, said: "Vandalism is always a problem at schools over the summer holiday but in the past headteachers have had different policies on what constitutes trespassing.

"Some schools have been happy to let children play in their grounds, but others don't want anyone on there at all.

"However this year they have agreed that no-one should be on their property and anyone who is caught on the grounds unlawfully will be prosecuted under the Education Act 1996."

In the past broken windows, damaged roofs and other acts of vandalism have been a common problem for school caretakers.

But Insp Vincent was quick to stress that only a small minority were responsible for the damage.

He added: "However we would warn all children to stay away because we don't want innocent youngsters to be blamed for other people's damage.

"We don't want to expose children to that risk, which is why we are asking them to stay away from schools.

"It is time we raised awareness of this problem so it can stop because it is unacceptable."

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