VANDALS have struck at a Trowbridge primary school splashing gallons of paint on walls, smashing windows and kicking in a shed door.

The damage was done during a five-day spree at Paxcroft Primary School.

Caretaker Herbie Hornby, 54, discovered the trail of destruction at the school and called in police.

Mr Hornby believes children from outside the area could be to blame for the mess.

He said: "I have got to know most of the children who play around here, and they often loiter around the school.

"We have a relationship of mutual respect and I think it is alright for them to hang around because they do not have anywhere else to play.

"I think the people who did the damage could be visiting or staying with parents.

"We often get these sort of problems for a short time over the summer."

As he began the massive clean-up job Mr Hornby, who has been caretaker at the school for the past 10 years, said he hoped the vandalism attacks would come to an end.

"I have seen a lot of this sort of behaviour and it's a pain to have to clean up afterwards," he said.