GOVERNORS at an Islamic girls school are facing a £20,000 repair bill after it was targeted by stone-throwing yobs.

Vandals repeatedly hurled debris at more than 20 toughened windows on the first and second floors of the Islamiyah School, in Willow Street, Little Harwood, late on Friday night.

Building rubble from the former Matthew Brown brewery site, which was pulled down 10 years ago, is believed to have been used as ammunition.

School secretary Salim Sidat said that the hoardings surrounding the Matthew Brown site, which is earmarked for a housing development, has led to the school site itself becoming isolated and a prime target for troublemakers.

He said: "We had a number of problems before, with fly-tipping and people drinking in the street. But since they have put the boards up it has got worse. It is not the first time the school building, which also doubles as a part-time mosque, has been targeted."

Another attack, in January, left school governors having to pay out thousands of pounds when a handful of windows were smashed.

The new incident has affected four classrooms, where English, maths and science were taught to girls at the 278-strong school.

Once the school day finishes the accommodation is also host to prayer services and mosque classes, says Mr Sidat.

He thinks that the school will now have to consider erecting wire meshing over all ground floor windows at the premises, and installing CCTV security cameras.

Mr Sidat said this would limit funding for the education work at the school, which is entirely funded by voluntary contributions.

The school also hosts part-time courses for Preston College.

Police are investigating.