A SPA police officer has praised Wychavon Community Safety Partnership for helping the police deal with intruders into local schools.

After an incident in which four intruders were found on the premises of St Peter's First School, in Church Lane, last month, Droitwich police used evidence from covert closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) supplied by the partnership to catch them.

The offenders were caught drinking and making a mess in one of the internal courtyards of St Peter's First School.

They were arrested by officers and the footage from the CCTV cameras has helped prove the case against them.

Now they have been prosecuted for causing a nuisance on educational premises under the Education Act.

PC Lloyd Buffery said: "Partnership working between West Mercia police and Wychavon District Council is continuing to benefit the community.

"The cameras don't look like cameras so intruders won't know whether they have been seen."

Now further CCTV units have been deployed to the other schools in the town, including Westlands First School, in Farmer's Way, which has had a recent problem with trespassers.

Wychavon Community Safety Partnership Manager Dave Hemmings looks after the budget for the CCTV cameras, which are so small they can be hidden in the hands of a clock.

PC Buffery said when they are used successfully the budget can be increased to pay for more cameras.

But PC Buffery added: "The CCTV cameras are great but we still need residents to phone us if they see intruders at schools so we can catch them."