Extra security measures are being taken by both Witney secondary schools to protect their pupils and premises.

Henry Box School has just installed a CCTV camera system at a cost of £17,000 to monitor the buildings and grounds round the clock.

Over this term both it and Wood Green School are investing in security fencing for their sports fields. Governors and staff are increasingly worried about the danger to students caused by dog fouling and discarded glass bottles.

The other five secondary schools in west Oxfordshire have also put a range of measures in place against a background of minor vandalism, and to protect against unwanted intruders.

Cynthia Savage, the headteacher at Wood Green School, which already has a CCTV system, said: "While west Oxfordshire enjoys a well-deserved reputation for the low level of crime in the area, all schools are at risk from minor vandalism, usually out of school hours.

"Modern CCTV systems are very efficient and will have a beneficial impact on our repair bills."

The camera system at Henry Box is fitted with tapes which are always running and can be rerun to select video footage. The system is also set up to take on additional cameras in the future.

Headteacher Rod Walker said: "There is not a secondary school I know of that does not get minor vandalism at weekends or in the holidays."

The school's other problem is to secure its playing fields.

Mr Walker added: "Quite apart from the obvious unpleasantness of having to clear pitches before they can be used for PE lessons or matches, dog faeces carry toxocara canis, which can cause serious eye disease."