A DEFIANT headteacher has vowed that vandals who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in a window-wrecking rampage will not spoil festive celebrations for pupils at a Basingstoke school.

Jan Cushing, head of Manor Field Junior School, was due to reopen the school today after it was closed for two days while 32 windows worth £7,000 were replaced.

The school was one of four targeted by vandals or intruders in the last few days.

Staff arriving at Manor Field Junior School in the Brighton Hill area on Monday were shocked to find all but one classroom had damaged windows.

Mrs Cushing said she was grateful to nearby residents for alerting the police after they heard the sound of breaking glass early last Saturday. She vowed the vandal attack would not ruin the run-up to Christmas for the 220 pupils.

Commenting on school vandalism, Mrs Cushing said: "Unfortunately, it seems to be the way society is going. Parents were shocked at the extent of the damage."

Learning assistant Anna Barton, of Novello Close, said she was upset and annoyed.

"I wish I knew who did this - they are mindless idiots," said Mrs Barton.

Parent Denise Norman, from Gershwin Road, said she was shocked and disgusted by the vandalism.

Her eight-year-old daughter Aimee said she felt sad that someone should do this to her school, especially near Christmas.

The incident has prompted borough and county councillor Phil Heath to discuss security measures with the school's head, including extra lighting and CCTV cameras.

Other schools targeted in the last week were Oakley Infant School, John Hunt of Everest in Popley and Park View Infant School on Pinkerton Road, Basingstoke.

At Oakley, louts used an airgun to smash six large windows and five skylights, causing damage totalling £2,000.

At John Hunt of Everest, two windows were broken while at Park View Infant School, damage totalling £3,000 was done when two computer hard drives, a printer and other computer equipment was stolen. Again, the culprits smashed windows at the premises.

Anyone who can help the police inquiry into the incidents is urged to call Basingstoke police on 0845 045 45 45 or the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.