Residents today claimed a school playground has turned into the Wild West after repeated vandalism attacks.

Staff at St Augustine's CofE Primary School in Wapping Road repeatedly have to clear glass from smashed windows before teaching, with more than 30 windows smashed in the past couple of weeks.

The vandalism is a further blow for the school which is striving to improve after a poor Ofsted report.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said attacks at the school happen regularly.

"It is getting totally out of hand and we are at our wits end," he said. "Windows are smashed on a regular basis and high-powered catapults used. Someone is going to get killed.

"It's like the Wild West rather than a school playground."

Deputy headteacher Jo Byndloss said it is a traumatic time for teachers and pupils.

"It appears to be the latest craze to have catapults and marbles which are causing a great deal of damage to the school," she said. "This is proving very expensive for the school, but more than that it is upsetting that we have to clear up glass before we can start teaching."

Jane Riley, chairman of governors at the school, said matters have got out of hand.

"We have had problems for a number of years but it has got a lot worse recently. The site is exposed and quite isolated which has left the caretaker vulnerable. When we saw the ball-bearings in the school grounds we were very concerned."

Terry Patten, of the Bradford branch of the GMB union, also a member of the Otley Road Tenancy Association, said something has to be done to safeguard pupils and staff.

"What is happening at the school is unacceptable," he said. "There have been about 50 windows smashed in the past few weeks and ball-bearings and glass scattered around. One of these days someone is going to get hit in the head and die."

Ray Alderman, full-time union convener for the GMB, said action has to be taken.

"This is a very serious matter and we are trying our utmost to get matters sorted out as quickly as possible before it is too late," he said.

A police spokesman said there has been a catalogue of incidents reported and 33 windows smashed within two weeks.