AN Alcester school which has been dogged by vandalism is calling for hawk-eyed residents to be extra vigilant during the summer break.

Heads of St Nicholas' Primary are hoping antisocial behaviour in the school grounds will be stamped out with the promise of extra police presence over the six-week holidays.

About a year ago, vandals set fire to one of the temporary classrooms on the St Faiths Road site, resulting in the loss of thousands of pounds of books and resources.

And there were more problems during the Easter holidays when thoughtless thugs damaged doors and smashed windows, causing delay to building work on a new part of the school.

Now, with summer holidays beginning this week, there have been calls by headteacher Sally Staley and chairman of governors Sue Heap for the police and public to be more vigilant.

Mrs Heap told the Chronicle she hoped that with the new building and renovations to the site finished, parents and residents would be happy with the improvements to the school and keep an eye out for them.

"The building has been vandalised on a number of occasions and we are concerned over the summer holidays that more vandalism will occur," she said.

"It's been rebuilt over the last 18 months and there have been two arson attacks and windows smashed.

''But we hope that any antisocial behaviour in the area will be stamped out."

A meeting with police was held at the school last Friday.

Mrs Staley said she was happy with the discussions at the meeting and the arrangements made looked promising.

Stratford District Chief Insp Chris Ward said: "We realise that they have had some problems with the vandalism at the school.

''For short-term protection we will increase patrols and in the long term, we will work with the school and other partners in the area for diversion activities for the children within the estate."