VANDALS went on the rampage at a Warminster school causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Thugs targeted Avenue Primary School at the weekend only two days after the start of the summer holidays breaking a fence, snapping trees in two and daubing obscene graffiti on a classroom.

Chairman of governors Burt Paul was sickened when he heard about the extent of the damage.

He said: "It makes me really mad that kids can find nothing better to do. A lot of people work jolly hard for the children at the school it is really upsetting when something like this happens."

Mr Paul went on a tour of the damage on Monday and is eager for repair work to start.

"Warminster Town Council gave us the trees and four of them have been snapped off.

"They cost about £50 to £60 each," he said.

"The security fence was damaged and the graffiti is on the back of a temporary building which is being used as an early excellence centre.

"Some of it is obscene and a couple of teachers' names are mentioned. The people involved must have some sort of connection with the school."

This is not the first time the school has been targeted, and Mr Paul said they feel helpless to stop it from happening again.

He is calling for a police crackdown on problem areas around the site.

"We have taken all the security measures that we can, short of erecting a really substantial fence," he added.

"We haven't got the money to afford this so we have no choice but to accept what is happening.

"We have a problem with children who drink and smoke between the car park and Avenue School. We have reported it to the police on a number of occasions but nothing seems to

happen."

Mr Paul said handing out tougher punishments for offenders and better parenting would help solve the problems.

Inspector Geoff Miles, of Warminster police, said: "The officer responsible for the area will go out there, and together with the school and any other agencies, we will come up with an action plan to deal with it.

"This is not just an issue for the police.

"There have been reports of youths gathering in the area but it has been more of an anti social issue than one of criminal damage."

Anyone with information can phone Warminster police on (01985) 847000.