VANDALS are suspected of starting a blaze which destroyed a barn at a school farm in the early hours of Sunday.

Animals were put at risk and about £2,000 worth of hay and straw was burned in the fire at The Astor of Hever School in Maidstone.

Staff from the school say this is just the latest - and worst - case in a long series of vandal attacks and claim that the site has become a regular trouble-spot.

Headteacher Martin Carroll said: "At night this site is a free-for-all for youths. We got back from the summer holiday to find 17 windows smashed at the school, and there are often burned-out cars.

"It is very frustrating for the school because money we could be spending on improvements is being wasted making repairs."

It took three shifts of firefighters 10 hours to get the blaze under control and ensure that it did not spread to nearby pig pens and chicken coops.

No animals were hurt, although some young chicks - which are being kept on incubators - where put in danger when the electricity on the site was shut off to allow firefighters to battle the blaze. Fortunately emergency power supplies were arranged before the chicks got too cold.

Farm manager Keith Eade said: "The children will be very upset by this. They put a lot of hard work into looking after the animals and raising money for the farm. When something like this happens it is frustrating and depressing."

Anyone with information is asked to call police area crime management unit on 01622 608189.