A head teacher is appealing for skateboarders to stop vandalising school property after three new benches have been destroyed.

The headmistress of Addingham Primary School, Jane Drake, is calling for the youths to stop entering the school at night and using its furniture as ramps.

"We have been having some problems in the school with skateboarders using the benches," she said.

"They have been splintered and severely damaged and they are dangerous because they are used by four-year-olds.

"I have written to parents asking them to speak to their older children about this type of thing. I want to appeal to them to stop. Three of the benches are severely damaged and we have had them less than a year. The wood is now splintering off."

Skateboarders have been jumping on to the benches in the school grounds to perform acrobatic moves.

The benches cost £400 each and they were bought by the Friends of Addingham Primary School last September.

They will now have to be removed and repaired.

Mrs Drake added: "We have some tables and they are using them as well but they have metal surfaces and haven't damaged as easily.

"It started when the nights started getting lighter. It just seems to be getting worse now and I do not want them on the premises, but they come back as soon as I have gone home. "

The appeal comes as skateboarders from Addingham asked Addingham Parish Council to provide them with a proper skateboard park.