BARDEN Infants' School, Burnley, will have to spend vital cash meant for pupils on security cameras after vandals smashed 62 windows in the latest of a long series of raids.

Children - many excited about their first day at school - were sent home in tears after teachers arrived on Monday morning to find glass scattered all over the building.

Head-teacher Glenys Lees says the school may have to go without new equipment so that it can pay for closed-circuit TV to deter the thugs. She told the Citizen: "CCTV is the only thing that will stop these people, and that could cost anything from £1,000 to £10,000. The money will come out of the school budget - money we should be spending on children's education."

Vandalism at the Abel Street school has escalated over the past six months, and in the latest raid youngsters threw bricks through windows and climbed on the roof to smash skylights.

Neighbours saw the vandals and names of suspects have been given to the police.

Mrs Lees added: "It was very depressing for the staff to arrive back after the holiday and find the school in such a terrible state.

"Repairing the damage will cost thousands of pounds because we need anti-vandal glass, which is very expensive."

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