DAMAGE totalling more than £100,000 was caused to Bolton schools in arson attacks last year, figures reveal.

The attacks include vandals breaking into schools and starting fires by pushing burning materials through vents and extractor fans -- and even setting fire to cars next to school buildings.

Schools across the town have lost computers, books, play equipment and in some cases temporarily been forced out of classrooms because of fire and smoke damage.

The arson attacks included:

In June, 2002, a gang breaking into Smithills School and starting a bonfire on the roof of a store room.

In February, 2002, £35,000 of damage caused by an arson attack on a reception classroom at Cherry Tree Primary School in Farnworth.

The fires have continued this year. In August an arson attack damaged books, a computer and a classroom at Clarendon Primary School in Great Lever and in April vandals pushed rubbish and aerosol canisters through an air vent at Sunninghill Primary School, Daubhill and set them alight.

Remarkably, last year's school arson attack figure was about £150,000 less than the 2001 total which stood at £307,000.

A Bolton Council spokesman said no trend could be read into the figures because a serious attack on one school can have an impact on the statistics -- for example in 2001 a fire at Brownlow Fold Primary School caused £250,000 worth of damage.

Nationally, the annual cost of arson in schools has hit a record high of £96.6 million -- a doubling in costs over a decade. In Bolton, the council spokesman said that incidents of arson in schools has been "fairly steady" and have not increased particularly in the past decade.

Officers from Bolton Council's Risk Management Section and council fire safety officers are trying to combat the vandalism and arson.

Work is taking place to upgrade intruder alarms and CCTV systems and to install fencing and shutters to deter intruders.

Sprinkler systems will also be installed into all new schools.

Where attacks have taken place, security patrols will be stepped up and the council will also look at minor incidents to establish whether a pattern is emerging and whether further action needs to be taken.

Individual schools are given additional guidance to combat the effects of fires by Fire Safety Officers.

A Bolton Council spokesperson: "The actions taken by the Council are under constant review and plans are in place to implement further measures."