AN EAST Cleveland special school has appealed to its community for help in catching vandals who smashed ore than 50 windows in a two-week wrecking spree.

Kilton Thorpe Special School's sixth form building, at Marshall Drive, Brotton, has been targeted by hooligans who have caused about £10,000- worth of damage.

Headteacher Kevin Thompson said: "We can't think of a motive, it's certainly not our students; I think it's just mindless vandalism.

"We've spent hours cleaning up after each incident and now most of the building is boarded up - it's like working in a tomb."

The trouble began at half-term, when 46 windows and blinds were smashed, forcing the school to close three teaching areas while staff spent hours cleaning up.

There were more problems the following weekend, with another five windows smashed, and on Monday, June 13, a further seven windows were broken.

The vandals' ammunition is coming from the nearby demolition site of the former Warsett School, which is being cleared for building the new Freebrough Community College.

Coun Brian Hogg, who represents Brotton on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: "The fact that they have got security guards at the old Warsett site has made no difference at all.

"There seems to be a group of about ten youngsters who are causing a lot of damage in the area.

"We took the school governors up to there to see the damage and they were appalled.

"It's not conducive to learning, because the classrooms are so dark with all the boards up. It's just ridiculous."

Mr Thompson added: "It's a problem for us and we need the community's help to solve it.

"We've now got a security guard patrolling the grounds at nights and weekends, but we're not confident about replacing any of the windows until we can be sure whoever is responsible can be stopped."

Coun Valerie Halton, Redcar and Cleveland Council cabinet member with responsibility for children's services, said: "We are extremely concerned about the level of vandalism, which has been going on for over two weeks now.

"We are working with the police and the school and taking extra security measures, but, along with Kevin, we would urge the public to help us find out who is responsible."