POLICE have issued a stern warning to youngsters that they risk prosecution if they are tempted to trespass or vandalise school property over the summer holidays.

The warning follows a number of reports of criminal damage and theft in schools over the last month and is timed to coincide with the start of the school holidays.

Sergeant Nick Holmes said: "Youngsters looking for somewhere to hang out with their friends during the summer holidays may be tempted to break into their local school.

"School property is often damaged in the process of gaining access and trespassers are putting themselves in danger by using equipment and utilities unsupervised."

Special constables and officers from St Albans' community team will be stepping up patrols over the summer during the week and at weekends as part of a special operation to shield school property from the attention of vandals.

Incidents of trespassers, minor vandalism and theft have been common place across schools in the county Wheatfields School in St Albans and Grove School in Harpenden.

All local schools have trespass notices, and in the last month, prior to the holidays, three people have been charged in the city with being a nuisance on school property.

Sergeant Holmes added: "We would like to remind everyone that schools are private not public property, and breaking in is not only an offence but also extremely dangerous.

"We will take swift action against anyone who we catch or identify as vandals or people causing a nuisance."