SCHOOLS are being warned to tighten their security after a string of burglaries in recent weeks.

Recruiting neighbourhood watch-style volunteers is among the measures being suggested to schools in Radcliffe.

There have been 20 burglaries at schools in Radcliffe and east Bury in just eight weeks.

Property stolen includes laptops, computers, projectors, cameras and other small electrical items.

The BurySafe partnership is making recommendations including adding alarms to all external doors and ground floor rooms, using internal grilles or bars on ground floor windows and ensuring they are bolted to masonry or brickwork And it suggests asking local people to be vigilant and contact police if they see anything suspicious.

Gaynor Mason, crime reduction adviser, said: "We would also advise schools to boldly mark their property. It is also worth locking all small valuable items away in cabinets or internal stock rooms, preferably in areas where there is an alarm system. Bolt down projectors and interactive whiteboards".

The partnership also suggests using razorwire or anti-climb paint as a deterrent.