SECURITY is to be stepped up at a special school in an attempt to fight back against intruders.

Tullyallen School, Salisbury Road, Darwen, is putting up a new fence, installing new locks and a video entry system.

The move comes after a series of security breaches at the site.

During one incident, two pupils were punched in the face by a man who was carrying a machete in his trousers.

Deputy headteacher Dominic Wall said: "The problem is that intruders can just step overt our perimeter wall at the moment.

"That is what happened in the most serious incident last year.

"We have also found evidence that hard drugs have been taken on our premises and large gangs have been meeting here to fight."

The new measures have been made possible by a Government grant of £11,500 in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy.

The original railings are believed to have been donated to the war effort in the 1940s.

The school, which specialises in caring for children with behaviour problems aged between seven and 16, is applying for planning permission for the 2.4 metre high fencing.

Work on the improvements will start during half term next week and are expected to be completed within two months.

Mr Wall added: "We already employ a private security firm to cut down on the cost of vandalism.

"In the summer of 1996 alone we faced a £7,000 bill.

"We hope the new measures will improve the presentation as well as the security of the school and make us better neighbours to the surrounding community."

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