'THOUGHTLESS' vandals ripped apart and set alight a school playground causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Pupils at St James' CE School in Clitheroe arrived yesterday to find their willow tree shelter and echo garden had been set on fire.

The gang of youths responsible, branded 'disgusting' by teachers, also ripped wooden benches out the ground and left drug paraphernalia in the playground.

Headteacher Fiona Pattison said the 'arrogant' youths aged between 14 and 16 had been plagued the school for some time.

She said: "Who do they think they are acting this way?

"It's thoughtless behaviour and very arrogant of them.

"I dread coming in on a morning and seeing what damage has been caused.

"Clitheroe is a lovely place to work but there's a tiny minority ruining it.

"I'm disgusted that they've acted this way.

"What are the parents doing about this?

"The parents have to be held responsible, they need to know what their children are doing, these aren't primary school children."

The school has had on going problems for several months with youths coming into the premises after hours.

CCTV cameras are up and police have been contacted about the problems in the past.

Staff said they often come in and see litter including cigarettes ends, packets of crisps, cans of alcohol and drug paraphernalia.

To access the site at the school they had to climb a fence or wall more than six foot.

Police have launched an investigation and are urging anyone with information about the 'mindless and selfish' behaviour to contact them.

School governor Richard Blackburn, who is also headteacher at Whalley CE Primary School, said: "It's a very special area to the school and it's a real shame that it's been mistreated this way.

"It's just very sad to see and it's the children at the school who are going to suffer for it.

"The school teaches it's student great lessons about the importance of the environment and community and it's a shame that the youths in the area who have done this haven't acted the same.

"The school has had grant money for that site and spent a lot of time on it and it's disappointing mindless youths have gone and done this."

A Police spokesman said: "I was met by some very upset three-year-olds when I visited the school.

"Causing damage, drug taking and leaving paraphernalia around for toddlers to stumble across is mindless and selfish and the culprits will be dealt with accordingly."

Anyone with information should contact police 101.