A WATERSIDE school has been closed today because vandals smashed 48 windows.

Staff and children arrived at Wildground Junior School, in Dibden Purlieu, this morning to find the building left devastated by a wrecking spree.

Broken glass filled five of nine classrooms, and hall and toilet windows were also smashed.

The hooligans even stole paint from one classroom and daubed it around the outside of the school.

The clear-up operation will run into thousands of pounds. Head teacher John Wright told the Daily Echo: "It's devastating for everyone. The classrooms are covered in glass and it's the time now that has to be spent clearing up.

"The children are missing today from school and Year 6 have important SATS test next week."

The school is hoping to open tomorrow but will not be able to confirm until this afternoon.

Mr Wright said that the school had suffered recent problems with vandalism but they have always been on a smaller scale, with just one or two windows targeted by yobs.

"We have had a bit of an orgy of destruction," he added. We have to strike the balance between wanting to make the school look at attractive school and making it a fortress."

Staff manned the gates this morning to inform parents arriving that the school was closed.

Children who arrived on foot or by bike were taken to a safe room to watch a video while their parents were contacted. Parents who live nearby said they did not hear any disturbance last night.