A HIT-LIST of Lancashire schools desperate for extra protection from vandals and intruders has been drawn up by County Hall bosses.

The move follows rising concern about the increase in the number of attacks on schools across East Lancashire.

Three schools in the area, St Bede's in Blackburn, Accrington's Moorhead High School and St Hilda's in Burnley, have already drawn up plans to turn their properties into virtual fortresses.

A series of worrying incidents at schools include a case at Moorhead High in Accrington where a youth armed with a machete threatened teachers and children.

Thousands are also spent by the county council each year repairing damage and replacing stolen items. A priority list of schools where action is needed to protect the safety of staff and pupils has been put together.

And the Government has come up with a package of £662,000 worth of grants to help pay towards stepping up security at Lancashire's schools.

Almost 40 primary and secondary schools in East Lancashire have been added to the list.

The register was drawn up by a small action committee and is based around crime statistics and the number of recorded vandal attacks, break-ins and criminal damage.

The aim is to direct the cash to where it is most needed across the county. A second set of schools has been put on stand-by if more cash becomes available. Audley Junior School, which was burnt to the ground in an arson attack four years ago, has been added to the priority list.

Head teacher Susan Grimshaw said: "We are more than pleased that we have been added to the list.

"We have already introduced our own security to keep people out and this money will help to improve on those measures."

She added: "The school is on a very large site and in this day and age we cannot allow members of the public open access to the school.

"Our first priority must be the safety of our staff and pupils."

Schools in Blackburn and Darwen where extra security is needed are: St Paul's in Hoddlesden; Audley junior and infant schools; the Hawthorns; Meadowhead junior and infant schools; St Aidan's; St Mary's and St Joseph's; St Peter's junior and infant schools; St Stephen's junior and infant schools; St Thomas's; Cedars infants and Darwen Tullyallen special school.

Schools in Hyndburn on the list are: St Andrew's; Oswaldtwistle's Moor End; St Paul's, Oswaldtwistle; Church Sacred Heart school and Moorhead High. Schools in Burnley include: Barden infants; Ightenhill primary; Myrtle Bank primary; Rosehill junior and infant schools; St Peter's; Barden High; Gawthorpe High, Padiham; St Hilda's High; St Theodore's High; Townley High and Accrington Road Nursery.

Brierfield Mansfield High, Barnoldswick and Pendle Tutorial Centre are also in line for extra security measures along with Bacup Holy Trinity and Waterfoot primary school.

A training programme is also being put together with the help of police for school governors and head teachers on security and dealing with intruders.

And a special video has also been produced to give schools extra hints on security and safety.

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