CHILDREN at a Gwent school are being forced out of their library after vandals smashed windows causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Brenda Webster, head teacher at Millbrook Infants School, Bettws, expressed her sadness yesterday after she found school windows had been smashed by yobs.

Police were called to Millbrook junior and infants school on Sunday afternoon after youths were seen breaking windows with a baseball bat and ball.

Eight windows at the infants end of the school were shattered as well as another three at the juniors' building.

The school's 101 pupils are now unable to use the library and areas of the school hall have been cordoned off to make it safe to hold the school assembly there.

Mrs Webster said: "There was disbelief among the staff that someone could be so mindless.

"The children have been taught to respect property and they've been asking who did it."

She added: "This has happened before, about three years ago, when all the windows in the hall were smashed.

"We have been fortunate since then, but it's sad it's happened again."

Year-Six teacher Paul Manship had three windows in his classroom smashed, but the 27 children who use the room were still able to have lessons in it.

Mr Manship said: "Two large windows above the computers were smashed. Luckily the computers weren't damaged."

PC Sophie Whiting from Bettws Police Station said: "We are making a plea for witnesses or people who have seen youths behaving suspiciously to come forward by calling 01633 838 111.

"We need to catch these vandals to prevent this happening again at other schools in the area."

The school hopes to have their clean-up operation finished by today.

Noel Trigg, a Newport city councillor for Bettws, said: "It's very sad news.

"The majority of youngsters here in Bettws are good children but there is a hard core of criminals.

"I just don't know how we are going to stop this."

Millbrook infants and junior school is under threat of closure because of spare school places in Bettws.

A Newport city council spokesperson said the closure decision will not be affected by the vandals' attack.

The school's future is due to be announced within the next few weeks.