A SCHOOL looks to have won its fight to have have a steel fence built around its boundaries to keep out burglars, vandals and criminals.

Blackburn Meadowhead Junior School looks set to join the growing list of East Lancashire schools forced into desperate measures.

The school in Anglesey Street, Moorgate Fold, has won the financial backing of County Hall for its security project.

Lancashire County Council has given the school £30,000 to throw the seven foot high ring of steel around its boundaries.

The move follows the installation of a security system on the school door which includes electronic locks and a surveillance camera.

Governors and teachers decided to step up security following the Dunblane tragedy and worrying reports of strangers trying to entice children away from the playing fields.

Other schools in the area planning improve security following a wave of crime include St Bede's in Blackburn, Burnley's St Hilda's RC High School and Moorhead High in Accrington. Meadowhead has asked for planning permission from Blackburn with Darwen Council for the palisade fence.

If the application is approved at next month's planning meeting the work will be put out to tender almost straight away. Meadowhead headteacher Janet Knight said: "We had a site meeting with Lancashire County Council in the summer.

"They agreed the site needed better security and said they would be able to find the £30,000 for us.

"They agreed we have one of the most exposed sites for a school in East Lancashire and something needed to be done."

Mrs Knight added: "We have had all sorts of problems with vandalism and dogs fouling on the fields.

"The school is very open and people are constantly walking across the grounds.

"Most of them are just going about their legal business but we have had reports of people trying to entice children away.

"Sadly not everyone has good intentions these days or is very public spirited."

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