SPY cameras have been fitted at a Winsford school in a desperate bid to beat vandals.

In recent months yobs have left staff at Handley Hill Primary School with a £45,000 bill.

Vandalism has got so bad that governors have spent £31,000 on CCTV cameras and hired a security firm to guard the school at night.

Betty Cleary, chairman of the school's governing body, admitted: 'Vandalism is getting completely out of control.

'Damage at the school is so bad we have been forced to fit the cameras after a £12,000 damage repair bill. Hiring a private security firm is going to cost us another £2000.

'This is money we can't afford to spend. We have just lost two teaching posts to budget cuts and we don't want to lose another one this year'

'The playground needs resurfacing, but we can't afford to do that now. The education authority said it is money that we have got to spend to protect the school and has loaned us the money.

'But it has got to stop because we cannot afford more repair bills.'

Mrs Carey said youths who target the school are recklessly risking their own lives and those of other people.

She said: 'They have been using the school roof for barbecues and this is obviously highly dangerous. We have even seen them taking sleeping bags onto the roof.

'They have smashed windows and wrecked one of the chimneys.

'On one occasion vandals ripped off a gate then used it to help them climb to the roof. They then dragged it up and used it again to get down into our patio area where they smashed all the windows.

'Hopefully the CCTV cameras and security guards will finally put a stop to this.'

A police spokesman confirmed officers had been called out to a number of incidents at Handley Hill.

He added: 'This is an area where the police Community Action Team could get involved.'