TEACHERS are counting the cost after classrooms were left damaged when thieves stole lead from school buildings in Bicester.

Staff only noticed the lead had been taken after heavy rain leaked through the roof at Southwold School and King's Meadow Primary School.

The thefts took place on Wednesday, December 5, but it was not until heavy rain the following week that the schools noticed.

Two classrooms at Southwold were fixed straight away, but another two suffered damage to ceilings, carpets and interactive white boards.

Kings Meadow School, in Shakespeare Drive, sustained minor damage.

Tony Instone, headteacher at King's Meadow, said: "I am very disappointed that two schools have suffered similar acts of vandalism.

"It has affected both schools and will take time and expense to rectify the problems."

Thieves have targeted buildings across the county in the last few months following a sharp rise in the cost of metal.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Toby Shergold said: "We are working with schools in the area and are asking them to remain vigilant to prevent any further incidents."

He said no arrests had been made.

Clare Critchley, headteacher at Southwold School, said: "This has been a huge inconvenience to Southwold School.

"Initially we had four classrooms out of action, but were able to fix the problem in two of them.

"We have been drying out the carpets and are waiting to see whether the ceiling needs replacing.

"We do not know what the cost of the damage is and are waiting for the insurance company to come back to us with a figure."

Just a few months ago, swimming pools and play areas were among the Oxford leisure facilities to be targeted by scrap metal thieves.

In October, raiders removed lead flashing from pipes at Temple Cowley swimming pool in Oxford.

Previously, thieves targeted 15 garages in Poplar Close, Kidlington, which were also stripped of lead flashing.

Police said there had been about 200 similar metal raids on homes, churches, pubs and village halls across Oxfordshire this year.