A VANDALISED infant school could get security cameras in a link-up with the successful Burnley town centre scheme.

Barden Infants School was closed for a day after it was targeted by window-smashing vandals, who showered the school hall and classrooms with glass and damaged a false ceiling.

Head teacher Glenys Lees said at the time she was looking at ways of getting closed-circuit TV cameras to protect the school. She said: "Burnley Boys Club and Barden sports track is getting cameras and that system partially covers the school.

"The infant and junior school is looking to put a bid in for government money to have cameras at the schools linked in with the boys' club system and therefore directly with the town centre scheme.

"If we are not successful in winning money for that scheme the Government is also releasing extra money next year for cameras for schools, so we can always apply for that."

Mrs Lees said the support from parents of pupils had been tremendous since the vandalism and they are planning to hold a fund-raiser at the school and parent Neil Blackburn is going to hold a sponsored cycle ride from his home to Halifax.

Mrs Lees added: "Money raised will help to improve general security at the school, which is something we are looking at as a whole."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.