A 12-YEAR-OLD girl was seriously injured after falling nearly 15 feet through a skylight while playing on the roof of a York school.

The incident comes only weeks after nearly identical incidents left two teenagers lucky to be alive in Selby, and a 13-year-old boy was critically injured in Catterick.

The girl, who has not been identified but was not a pupil at the school, had been climbing with friends at Lowfield School, Acomb.

An ambulance service spokesman said she was taken to York District Hospital with suspected fractures to her leg, elbow and wrist, and head injuries, although they were not thought to be life-threatening.

She had fallen into the school's design and technology workshop.

Head teacher John Thompson said: "We have never had an incident of this kind before, but all schools are prone to having people entering premises when they are closed.

"It is very unfortunate that this young person decided to do it in the light of recent publicity of incidents not that far away."

The accident happened on Sunday afternoon. Mr Thompson said the school's two- metre high gates had been locked.

But he added: "Whoever was in the school on Sunday obviously came over the boundary fence."

Local councillor Andrew Waller immediately demanded extra security at the site.

"I cannot see why the council did not put a higher fence around the whole school field when a two-metre high fence was erected along the sides nearest Gale Lane and part of Tudor Road," he said.

"Instead, a virtual gap has been left which is not helpful to either the school or the neighbourhood."

Mr Thompson said the school's security was being monitored.

"We consistently keep the situation under review, and we have spoken to the police since this incident," he added.

"We are keen to keep the school as secure as possible.

"Everybody at the school does their best to encourage pupils to behave in a sensible and safe way, whether they are considering school buildings, railway lines, or any other potential danger.

"We will be talking again to the pupils about potential hazards in assemblies in the course of the next few days."

A spokesman for York Police said it is not thought any charges will be brought against the girl.

Last month, Carrie Hamilton, 15, and Sean Kouvilirja, 14, fell into a science laboratory while collecting tennis balls on the roof of the Holy Family RC School in Carlton, near Selby. Both escaped serious injury.

Days earlier, a teenager was critically injured after crashing through a skylight while skateboarding on a school roof near Catterick.

Updated: 15:22 Wednesday, May 08, 2002