Swindon Academy staff have been caught smoking in front of their pupils.

Three adults are seen puffing on cigarettes as two teenage girls in school uniform look on just yards from the gates of the new £34m building in Pinehurst.

The shocking revelation comes after parents living close to the Beech Avenue school wanted the Swindon Advertiser to investigate the issue of staff smoking in residential areas.

Other members of staff were seen lighting up in alleyways towards the back of Doris Archer Court during break at about 11am last Wednesday.

When confronted by the Adver they admitted being teaching assistants at the school who had no where to go and smoke.

Concerned mum-of-three Victoria Dimino said she would rather send her kids to school six miles away than walk just 10 metres to the Academy.

She got so fed up with discarded cigarette butts on the floor she cleaned up the street herself.

“What sort of example are they setting to kids?” said 30-year-old Victoria.

“They shouldn’t be smoking around here. Either the school should give them a smoking shelter or they need to go somewhere they can’t been seen by children.”

Another mum, who did not want to be named, said: “Staff are meant to be role models to children by having positions of responsibility.”

Marion Howell, 65, added: “I see staff smoking about four times a day. It’s usually when I’m walking my dogs.

“It’s not the sort of behaviour you’d expect.”

A Swindon Academy spokeswoman said: “Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the Swindon Academy site.

“The issue of staff smoking outside the school has only been raised with us this week and we are looking at how we can resolve it.”

Swindon Council responded to the claims street wardens failed to tidy an alleyway where cigarette butts could be seen.

“We are aware of some complaints relating to this alley but our StreetSmart team does undertake a litter pick of this area regularly to ensure there is a reasonable level of cleanliness,” said a council spokeswoman.

“It’s done by hand as the alley is too small for our cleaning machines and this may on occasion mean some litter, such as cigarette butts, is missed.

“Should anyone have further concerns, we would urge them to contact the council on 01793 445501.“ l Have you spotted school staff in Swindon smoking in front of pupils, if so call the newsroom on 01793 501798.