£10m

The figure has come to light after a Southampton judge decided that two teenage arsonists who caused a £3 million school fire should have their identities protected.

Now a Hampshire MP, who is furious with the decision, says she is to write to Home Secretary David Blunkett to highlight the case.

The cost of malicious fires at the county's public buildings, including schools, has topped £8m since 2001 - enough to buy three primary schools or 300 teachers.

Add this to the cost of vandalism - last year £790,000 was spent repairing public property including playgrounds, bus shelters and schools - and taxpayers are being hit hard.

Nearly £150,000 has also been forked out on CCTV cameras, mobile security patrols and other methods of preventing crime.

In four years, yob damage has rocketed by 62 per cent and 89 per cent of that has been carried out on schools.

The statistics come after a new children's play area in Netley Abbey was vandalised just hours after it had been completed.

Today Romsey MP Sandra Gidley backs Daily Echo readers who believe the 17-year-old arsonists behind the Chandler's Ford school fire should be named to deter others from committing similar crimes.

Mrs Gidley will write to Home Secretary David Blunkett to draw attention to the case.

She said: "It is a public duty on behalf of the judge to name these teenagers so people know what is going on in their midst."

Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber, added: "I want people to know who is preventing more schools being built in Hampshire or more teachers being taken on."

For the full story and all your reaction - see the Spotlight feature on pages 8&9 of today's Daily Echo.