A HEADTEACHER at a school plagued by vandals today said CCTV could be the only protection if the latest attempt to stop the culprits fails.

Elaine Smith, headteacher of St Barnabas' and St Paul's School, in Oakenhurst Road, Bank Top, Blackburn, made the claim after her school suffered a third incident of vandalism in two weeks.

On Tuesday evening a group of youths used pieces of drainpipe to fling mud at the school.

No windows were broken on this occasion but it left a huge mess.

Previous incidents have resulted in the school having to repair windows and carry out clean-ups.

"I think the only thing we can do now is install CCTV, but that costs £10,000," said Mrs Smith.

The school, which is a single-storey building, is next to Montague Health Centre and provides vandals with an opportunity to hide away from the main road.

Mrs Smith said: "Some incidents have occurred where youths have got onto the roof and had their bikes passed on to them. They then ride their bikes on the roof.

"We have an idea who the perpetrators of this vandalism are and something has to be done about them. The police get involved, but they are stretched as it is and nuisance incidents are low priority."

On this instance, the school reported the crime to the Bank Top Crime Initiative, a community scheme run in conjunction with the police.

The scheme's chairman, and chairman of the Bank Top Community Association, Peter Newton, said the initiative, has been designed to focus the community's attention on problems and help them encourage youngsters not to commit offences.

Local people are also working with the police to monitor the area.

"Hopefully, with the new scheme, incidents like this could be nipped in the bud," he said.

Picture: Head teacher at St Barnabas' and St Paul's Elaine Smith, holds some piping, broken by vandals at the school