A SCHOOL targeted by vandals aged as young as 10 is set to surround itself with a steel fence.

St Mary's RC primary school, Clayton-le-Moors, has suffered more than £1,000 worth of damage in a series of attacks since Easter, including:

Thirteen windows smashed in one raid.

Equipment stolen and washing-up liquid sprayed on carpets in a break-in.

A television aerial cut.

Damage to the boiler room.

St Mary's vicarage next to the Devonshire Drive school has also been vandalised, with graffiti daubed on walls and a TV cable slashed.

Head teacher Tony Gallagher fears further attacks in the summer and hopes the fence will be up in time for the holidays. A planning application has been lodged with Hyndburn Council.

Mr Gallagher said: "The trouble started on the day we broke up for Easter and there have been incidents ever since.

"People are using the school grounds as a short cut because the fence is inadequate.

"We suspect the vandals are pupils of junior school age, but we're not sure if they are pupils from our school." Some of our pupils have been quite distressed. It's worrying with the summer holidays coming up and we were hoping to get the new fence in place before we break up in a fortnight.

Sgt Carl Simister of Great Harwood police said: "We have had quite lot of damage to the school and the vicarage in the last few weeks.

"Two juveniles were arrested for an incident at the school and another was caught breaking into a shed at the vicarage. We have interviewed them and submitted files and we are awaiting advice."

He confirmed police patrols at the school have been increased.

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