RESULTS from the Daily Echo's shocking survey into school security were today in the hands of Hampshire and Southampton education chiefs.

The findings were hand delivered to Hampshire County Council's headquarters in Winchester and Southampton Civic Centre.

No senior officials would agree to receive them personally.

The Daily Echo pledged to hand over the dossier after investigators were able to get into the playground and mingle with children at three-quarters of secondary, primary, junior and infant schools across the county.

Reporters visited 40 junior and secondary schools in the area. They hadn't made an appointment and nobody at the schools knew who they were.

In several cases they were able to roam freely around school buildings including classrooms and toilets.

The Daily Echo's findings are now in the hands of those responsible for our schools.

Hampshire education boss Don Allen said: "We will be interested to see the information supplied to us by the Daily Echo and will be discussing the findings with the schools concerned."

A spokesman for Southampton City Council said that it would consider the document and take any action it felt necessary.

The Daily Echo's investigation has been praised by parents' and teachers' representatives.

Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said she supported any moves to increase awareness of school security.

Mrs Morrissey also sits on a government school security committee set up in 1995 after London head teacher Philip Lawrence was stabbed to death while protecting a pupil at the school where he taught.

She said: "School security should be a top priority. I think it is an important thing that the Daily Echo has done. I am sure the authorities involved will take it seriously.

"I would hope that they encourage schools not just to look at site security such as burglar alarms, but at children's security as well.

"School security is a whole new ball game now. In some cases it includes checking children for knives."

Ron Clooney, a Southampton teacher and national executive member of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, has long been campaigning for tighter security in schools.

Mr Clooney said: "The position of NASUWT has always been that we believe that school security needs to be stepped up. At our last national conference we moved a motion to say that we would like metal detectors in schools.

"We have said that security on school sites for the protection of staff and pupils needs urgent review. Anything the Daily Echo does to highlight the situation is welcomed.

"I also think parents need to realise that this is a serious issue. It affects everybody. It affects teachers, parents, pupils and government officers. Children in school deserve to be protected."