A HIGH school has launched an investigation after threats against a teacher were sprayed on its walls by vandals.

Staff at Walton High School, Nelson, called in the police after the offensive words were sprayed in black paint on three walls.

The graffiti was aimed at a teacher and mentioned his name. School head David Farrant said the attack was carried out by youths.

"The words were about showing respect and if that wasn't shown dire consequences would follow," said Mr Farrant.

"He would end up in the cemetery, that sort of thing. We believe it mentioned Islam.

"A youngster took exception to what this teacher said in a lesson. We think this youngster then spoke to someone outside the school and they took retaliation. I'm not convinced it was someone from this school.

"I informed the police because of the criminal damage and the threatening nature of the words."

He added: "The teacher was talking about showing respect. I know what was said in the lesson and I'm satisfied it was appropriate."

Mr Farrant has had urgent meetings with members of the Burnley and Pendle Racial Equality Council and the leader of the local mosque.

"The whole matter has been very disturbing and threatening for the member of staff involved," said Mr Farrant. "He has been quite upset by it all.

"We've had a lot of support from the Asian community.

"They want to distance themselves from the comments on the wall. They realise this is something contrary to their culture. "The Asian parents strongly deplore what has happened. They wanted to know if there was anything they could do to help."

Mr Farrant said Walton, where one in three pupils are Asian, had a good history of building relationships between the white and Asian communities. He said the graffiti attack was an isolated incident.

He said: "We have a history of building links between the communities at this school and this is a one-off incident that we don't want to blow out of all proportion.

"It is a very, very small number who have taken an extreme line on this."

Mr Farrant said the incident had also upset pupils who were worried that primary pupils visiting the school yesterday in preparation for starting at Walton in the autumn would get the wrong impression.

Workmen started cleaning the graffiti from the walls yesterday. Police said about £500 damage had been caused.

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