A WATERSIDE school will be closed for a second day today after vandals went on the rampage and smashed 48 windows.

Staff at Wildground Junior School in Dibden Purlieu had hoped that they would be able to reopen today but the huge amount of broken glass has made it impossible.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo, the school was targeted by vandals who went on a wrecking spree over the bank holiday weekend.

Children had to be sent home after glass was found in five of the nine classrooms and paint was daubed around the outside of the building.

Lessons will now start again on Friday because the 264-strong school is being used as a polling station tomorrow.

Residents wanting to cast their votes at Wildground Junior will not be affected because the school hall will be re-glazed in time.

Head teacher John Wright told the Daily Echo: "We feel angry. This is a lovely school with super children and very supportive parents. For them to come in yesterday morning and see their school in such a state is devastating.

"There is still glass on the field and pathways where the windows were put in. We have to make as clear as we can that the classrooms are free of glass, we cannot take any risks."

Glaziers at the school in Armitage Avenue estimated that the total repair bill would reach £5,000 to £6,000. The school has suffered an increasing number of similar attacks in recent months but never on such a massive scale.

Mr Wright added: "Over the last two to three months we have had odd incidents with one or two windows broken at weekends but this is in a different league."

Mr Wright said the school is now considering installing security cameras or dog-patrols.

Parent, Richard Corkhill, a 34-year-old Army corporal, of Hythe, said: "It's ridiculous, completely mindless. It's all the disruption - I have had to take time off work because of this."

Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for any witnesses to contact PC Martin Hughes at Hythe police station on 0845 045 4545.