PLANS to put up a two-metre high security fence at a village primary school are in place, pending planning officer approval.

With the support of Burton Primary School's new head teacher, Dorset County Council has applied for improved safety and security steps at the village school following some vandalism there a few months ago.

Over the summer youths broke onto the premises in Campbell Road causing damage and spraying graffiti over the walls of school buildings.

Following this trouble, school landowner Dorset County Council applied to Christchurch Borough Council's planning officers for permission to erect the new welded fencing along the boundary between the school and Salisbury Road, a main route through the village.

Head Stuart Calvert, who has been at the school since September, said: "We had a few on-site visitors in the summer who left their mark with some small acts of vandalism and graffiti.

"We're hoping the new fencing will dissuade trespassers from coming onto the premises and act as a preventative measure.

"And I've been told the new fencing will be a Dorset' green, which is perfect considering our uniform is the same colour."

The new durable fencing will replace an old wire mesh, which at only a metre high is not proving to be enough of a deterrent for vandals.

And the county council, governors and staff are hoping the fence and new access gate, which borders a busy road, will improve pupils' safety in the school's ongoing road safety campaign.

In recommending the application for approval, planning officers will have to judge whether the new fencing will have an impact upon the street scene.

According to Christchurch Borough Council planning officer Sophie Wright, unless there are large numbers of objections, the decision will be delegated to planning officers to make before December 31, rather than reaching the planning control committee.