Parents asked to help secure school

A mobile classroom was set alight in the last school fire

A Northamptonshire school hit by a series of arson attacks is asking parents and local businesses to help raise thousands of pounds to pay for security improvements.

The site, which Thrapston Primary shares with King John Middle school, was subject to five arson attacks in four months earlier this year.

To prevent further incidents the school's insurance company has asked for security improvements at a cost of £16,000.

In a letter asking parents to help raise the money, the primary school said the cash would otherwise have to come from the school's existing budget.

The letter added: "It is the first time in 20 years that we have made an appeal such as this."

Constant attacks

In a statement, Northamptonshire County Council said: "As the law stands, there is no statutory duty for councils to pay for additional security measures at schools."

Cliff Morrison, the head teacher at Thrapston Primary, told BBC News Online the entire community - not just the school - had suffered as a result of the attacks.

He said: "We are having fires constantly in the local area, as recently as this week."

He said he was confident that parents of pupils at the school were in favour of raising money for the improvements in order to stop the fires.

In June, an 18-year-old was arrested in connection with the attacks and was released on police bail.