SECURITY cameras are to be installed at a York infant school which has been repeatedly targeted by vandals.

Police were called out to Carr Infant School in Ostman Road, Acomb, four times over the summer holiday period after vandals broke into the premises, stole a computer and windows were smashed.

Officers were also called to a fight between two mothers, which broke out as they collected their children from the school.

The women involved in the altercation last year were warned about their conduct, a police spokeswoman has confirmed.

Now the school is set to have security cameras - bringing it in line with Carr Junior School, which shares the same site.

An award of £10,000 was made to the school by the Beckfield Ward Committee at a meeting last week.

It is not yet known how many cameras will be installed but it is hoped that both the school grounds and the entrance door will be covered.

Headteacher Ann McKeown said security grants from central government have already provided lighting, but were not enough to include cameras, which would help keep the school secure both during term time and in the holidays.

She said: "There has been a history of vandalism and there was vandalism over the summer holidays.

"The police were called out to the school four times, there were incidents of broken windows, we had a computer stolen, those kinds of things.

"We were advised by the police that the next step would be to have cameras.

"Our neighbouring school Carr Junior has got cameras so we are vulnerable if people are minded to think they can break in and not be seen."

Mrs McKeown said the incident between parents was regrettable but it was in the past.

She said: "It was an unfortunate circumstance that was dealt with at the time by the police and the legal department of the council."

A City of York Council spokesman said the council injected £240,000 into city schools to boost security following the Dunblane massacre in 1996 and every year schools share £80,000 on any security measures and related training they decide they need.

PC Jackie Williamson, of York police, said: "The cameras are long overdue.

"It will act as a useful deterrent to keep vandals out of there.

"The community still have a role to report people hanging around on the premises."

Updated: 08:43 Wednesday, October 17, 2001