HEAD teachers have new powers to prevent vandals and other criminals from entering school grounds.

And Warrington education chiefs are hoping that the new ruling will help prevent school buildings from becoming targets for crime.

Previous rules meant that head teachers were powerless to close access routes through school grounds and they were unable to prevent vandals and troublemakers from trespassing.

The Highways Authority has now said that teachers can control who comes on to their property in a bid to combat anti-social behaviour.

Tim Warren, Warrington Borough Council's assistant director of education and lifelong learning, said: "The safety of pupils and staff is our primary concern as the local education authority and they themselves are entitled to feel safe and secure when in school.

"We will need to study the details of these new powers to see if they are useful to us in Warrington."

In September last year, staff at Penketh High School were plagued by gangs of youths congregating on the public footpath running through the Heath Road site.

In the first four weeks of term, £14,000 was spent on repairs to damage caused by weekend and evening troublemakers.

Head teacher Barry Fishwick pleaded with councillors to alter the route of the footpath to help conquer the problem.

Ivan Lewis, Minister for Young People and Adult Skills, said: "It is a totally unacceptable situation that head teachers are not able to control who comes on to their school grounds.

"We are now sending out a clear message that we won't allow this to continue.

"Pupils and teachers have an absolute right to feel safe and secure and that is not possible when loutish behaviour is allowed to go on."

The ruling states that public rights of way can be diverted or closed to reduce or prevent crime and to protect members of staff and pupils.