A VANDAL-HIT school has received CCTV - thanks to car firm Arnold Clark.

The Evening Times exclusively told in December last year how Cardinal Winning Secondary School had suffered a string of break-ins.

Thugs hit the school three times - and on one occasion paused to eat a McDonald's meal.

The new CCTV cameras have already filmed someone allegedly trying to break into the school and an arrest has been made.

Now the additional needs school has been fitted with CCTV thanks to Assure Alarms, which is part of the Arnold Clark group.

Head teacher Gerry McDonald said: "A big thank you to Arnold Clark for purchasing and installing CCTV security cameras in Cardinal Winning School.

"The cameras were installed in January but already have been used to identify intruders trying to force entry, which has led to an arrest.

"The cameras operate day and night and staff and pupils feel grateful to Arnold Clark for taking such a huge personal interest in our school and helping us feel safer and more secure.

"All our children have learning difficulties and take great pride in their work.

"The cameras will record all intruders within our school campus and help us work with community policing to apprehend people who wish to steal from our children or destroy their work.’

The first break-in on November 9 saw nine iPads containing pupils’ work stolen.

Just a few days later, on the night of November 13, vandals returned but this time were unable to gain entry and instead smashed windows and doors.

Finally, on November 21, would-be thieves gained entry but found the classrooms locked, then vandalised the art room, covering each surface in ink and paint and destroying the children’s work.

Alex Wilson, Deputy General Manager of Assure Alarms, said: "We were delighted to be able to install the security cameras and help out the local community.

"It’s great to find out that they have already had a positive impact and we are certain that they will provide a number of long-term security benefits for the school."