A SCHOOL is set to be surrounded by a huge perimeter fence after vandals and burglars ran up a £30,000 bill.

Governors at Brunshaw Primary School, in Morse Street, Burnley, want to put up the 2.4metre metal boundary as part of a rolling security progr-amme backed by county education bosses.

The 450-pupil school’s head said the measures would shore up defences following an average of six vandal or burglary attacks every year, which have cost £30,000 over 10 years.

And police have also backed the plan, saying tall schools and busine-sses need to take “appr-opriate” measures to guard themselves against criminals.

Brunshaw Primary he-ad teacher Neil Tranmer said: “The fencing is the local authority’s policy for securing the building and aesthetically it is not the most pleasing, but at the moment we have only got a little railing which anyone could get over.

“We have had our fair share of trouble here. We were burgled last year and then just before Christmas they smashed several windows and tried to get in, but fortunately the alarms worked and they got away with nothing.

“It is very annoying because this money is going out of the school instead of going towards the children.”

Mr Tranmer also denied the new fence would make the school, which already has CCTV, look like a “prison”, saying: “It should be as aesthetically acceptable as possible.”

Insp Jez Holland, from Burnley police, said: “I would advise any person, school or business to protect their property and that means taking suff-icient steps to monitor it and to make sure it is as secure as possible.

“Community beat managers are always on hand to offer advice on safety, surveillance and CCTV.”

A Lancashire County Council spokeswoman said that the proposals for Brunshaw Primary, which need to be approved by Burnley Council, were part of the schools fire and security programme.

25 other East Lancashire schools have also had their security beefed up.

The planning application by Brunshaw Primary follows break-ins during the past week at Burnley College, Padiham Grange C of E Primary School and a children’s centre in West View Terrace, Padiham.