A SCHOOL targeted repeatedly by vandals has been so badly damaged that pupils had to be sent home yesterday.

In the past week, attackers have smashed 30 windows at Gurney Pease Primary School, in Albert Hill, Darlington, made six holes in the roof and broken the heating system.

It is costing thousands of pounds to repair the damage, including hundreds out of the school budget.

Yesterday, headteacher Sandra Battensby had to send all but year 6 home. They were due to be allowed back today.

She said: "This is my sixth year here and there has been more damage in a week than in the last five years. They have made six large holes in the roof, including one you can see the sky through."

The news comes as a Middlesbrough high school revealed it would have to pay £20,000 for security TV cameras after becoming one of the most burgled properties in the region.

Police believe that Newlands School, in Saltersgill Avenue, is being targeted by former pupils who know the layout of the building.

Meanwhile, in Darlington schools alone last year, there were 157 incidents of criminal damage and 60 burglaries.

Over the weekend, at least eight windows were broken at Springfield Primary School in Darlington, and a large laminate window was smashed at Hurworth primary.

At Gurney Pease, youths smashed windows on four separate occasions in a week, stripped lead from the roof, made six holes in the roof, tampered with the boiler gas supply and stole a key.

Last Wednesday, cleaners called the police after youths started banging spades near the school.

A parent at the school, too frightened to be named, said: "It is not just the school, it is the whole estate and it is getting out of hand.

"There are gangs of up to 30 and they are very abusive."

Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council cabinet member for children's services, said: "Vandalism of school buildings is an ongoing problem.

"We have introduced a range of security measures at schools, but we can't make schools into fortresses.

"If these mindless yobs are hell-bent on destruction, they are very difficult to stop.

"We can't do it alone, we need to work with communities to identify and catch the criminals. I, personally, will be pressing for the full force of the law to be brought against anyone we catch."