IT was business as usual for an Ipswich high school today as it reopened its doors to pupils after the Christmas break during which it had become victim to thousands of pounds worth of vandalism.

IT was business as usual for an Ipswich high school today as it reopened its doors to pupils after the Christmas break during which it had become victim to thousands of pounds worth of vandalism.

In the early hours of New Year's Day more than 30 windows at Stoke High were smashed and some school equipment was badly damaged.

A security man was only alerted when a sensor in the library was tripped and as he approached the school he saw three youths running from the scene.

The estimated cost of damage caused at the school was in the region of £10,000 and came a fortnight before £40,000 of CCTV equipment was to be installed to combat problems like vandalism.

The cameras will soon be in place and the school is confident it will deter vandals.

Caretaker Philip Smith said: "CCTV will give us concrete evidence as to who the culprits are if they decide to continually target our school."

Meanwhile children at the school returned to their education this week and days of clearing up had been completed so that everything was back to normal in time.

The people responsible for causing the damage to the school and its equipment have yet to be traced but staff at Stoke High are continuing to work alongside police.

The installation of CCTV at Stoke High comes as security at schools throughout Suffolk is to be improved thanks to a £140,000 handout from the Government.

The money will be used to improve facilities by paying for innovative ideas as well as traditional measures, such as security fences and CCTV. It is hoped it will help to reduce personal attacks, trespass, vandalism, theft and arson at school premises and comes as Suffolk's share of a £10 million handout nationally.