THIEVES broke into a York school and caused thousands of pounds of damage - despite security patrols.

The intruders broke windows to get into the main school office and teacher's offices at Fulford School, and then smashed open desks in a bid to get cash and valuables.

Head teacher Steve Smith said the school decided to pay out money from its own budget for a private security firm to patrol the grounds after school following a previous break-in which led to an arson attack.

He said the patrols, which take place at different times every day, will be stepped up following the break-in which happened last week.

Mr Smith said: "Luckily, they didn't get away with much as any money we have either gets paid straight into the back, or goes into a safe.

"The main annoyance was the amount of disruption that the clear-up caused.

"They caused a lot of mess as they not only turned over the main school office, but a lot of other offices, including those belonging to some of our heads of year.

"This isn't the first time this has happened, we had a break-in a couple of years ago and there is still an on-going court case surrounding that." The school also has closed circuit television (CCTV), but Mr Smith said images of the recent break-in were of poor quality.

Mr Smith said the school will be looking to upgrade its CCTV.

The thieves caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to windows and furniture and got away with about £50 in cash.

In May last year, York fire chief Graham Buckle said arsonists who tried to burn down Fulford School, in York, may have been "spurred on" by the Fulford flats fire, which happened the same evening in Hospital Fields Road.

On that occasion, five youngsters broke into the school and started a fire in the music room.

But the blaze burned itself out, causing only slight damage.

The incident was reported in the early hours of May 14, 2005 while firefighters were still tackling the flats blaze.

Last month, The Press reported that yobs caused £5,000-worth of damage when they broke into the greenhouse at Joseph Rowntree School and trampled on the plants.

Anyone with information about the Fulford School break-in should phone PC Victoria Lowery on 0845 6060247.