ANXIOUS parents of pupils at Merton Bank Primary School are calling on the council to improve security at the school by building a perimeter fence.

This follows a recent incident when a man with an air rifle was spotted on the fields at the back of the school in Roper Street, sparking fears of a Dunblane-like tragedy.

Although that proved to be a false alarm, worried mums and dads have drawn up a 400-name petition urging the council to take preventative action now.

Father-of-two Stephen Slater, who helped set up the petition with a friend, told the Star: "Both my children are at Merton Bank and I was actually at the school waiting to pick my eldest up when we heard that someone had been seen with a gun. It was terrifying. No-one could say at first what sort of a gun it was and my mind just automatically went back to the events at Dunblane.

"Fortunately, it turned out to be an air rifle but these are still dangerous and I think anyone who takes any sort of gun near a school in the light of what has happened must be pretty sick."

Now Stephen and fellow parent David Gonzalez, who helped with the petition, are lobbying the council to install a protective fence around the entire school grounds which they say will not only prevent vandals and trespassers from getting, but will also stop young children attending school from leaving unnoticed.

Added Stephen: "All the teachers support us in this and I am hoping the council will now be able to supply the funds to build the fence."

Merton Bank head teacher John Flanagan commented: "A security fence has been a priority for some time with us but lack of funds made it very difficult for the council to comply. However, the issue of security in schools has been very much in the news recently due to the tragedy in Dunblane and pressure from the parents has made it priority with the council as well.

"I have recently learned that we will be getting a security fence around the school field and infants' playground which the council are calling Phase One, with the second phase to follow later this year so obviously our efforts have not been in vain."

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