PERMISSION to put up a 2.4 metre fence around Eatock primary school has been given the go-ahead by town councillors.

But leader of the town council, David Wilkinson, said the fact that the school building and children needed protection was a sad indictment of local youths.

He said: "The school has been plagued by vandals and the school yard is often strewn with broken glass, syringes, and condoms.

"It's a sad state of affairs when a school has to put a great big fence up to protect the kids and buildings."