A HEADTEACHER today became the second in as many days to appeal for vandals to stay away from his school.

Tony Gallagher, head at St Mary's RC Primary School, Devonshire Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, is pleading with the vandals who have struck at his school four times in 10 days to stop.

In recent attacks, roof tiles have been ripped off as youngsters run across the school's roof while several fire doors have been damaged and windows have been smashed with billiard balls.

Now Mr Gallagher hopes a public appeal will make the culprits stop, or at least result in the school's neighbours keeping a closer watch on the building at night.

He said: "The children here are horrified by what these vandals are doing to their school.

"It is such a nuisance because everytime there is damage to the school, we have to pay for it to be repair and arrange to for someone to come in to sort it out, which disrupts the running of the school."

Mr Gallagher's appeal comes just a day after the head of Accrington's Woodnook Primary School, Stephen Bibby, reported that his school had been hit by vandals 24 times in six months.

A spokesman for Accrington Police said: "Several schools seem to be falling foul of the vandals at the moment and we are trying to find out who is responsible."

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Accrington Police on 01254 382141.