Vandals have attacked a primary school twice in a fortnight - giving a major headache to staff struggling to open on time.

Miriam Lord Community Primary School's leading head teacher Susan Clark described the summer as a "nightmare".

Hard work from staff meant the Manningham school opened yesterday as planned, but pupils still face major disruption.

During August Bank Holiday vandals broke into a mobile classroom and wrecked it. They smashed every window, pulled out the sink and wiring and poked holes in the ceiling.

A week later joyriders drove a car into the playground, through an entrance left open for builders. They set the vehicle alight, causing fire damage to the outside wall and windows of another classroom. Mrs Clark said she was promised by Bradford Council's schools reorganisation partners Bovis that builders would repair the damage last weekend, but she said they failed to turn up.

"The staff have continued to come in to put things right only to be thwarted by the vandals and a complete lack of co-ordination from the contractors."

The school was able to open yesterday because the vandalised classroom was used for group work and music lessons rather than for a specific class.

"It is a total inconvenience," said Mrs Clark. "The work is the responsibility of the managing partner, Bovis. They are the ones that we have to contact and they are the people that should be meeting deadlines."

Bradford Council's head of schools reorganisation, Angela Drizi said: "We have been in regular contact with Bovis to ensure suppliers complete the work today.

"The classrooms were completed weeks ago but suffered extensive vandalism."

Despite repeated attempts yesterday by the Telegraph & Argus, Bovis said they were unable to comment immediately on work at Miriam Lord school.

It is one of around 15 across the district suffering problems because of delays.

Meanwhile staff at Grove House Primary School, Eccleshill, were confronted by angry parents who brought their children to school yesterday, unaware the opening had been put back at least a day because of overrunning work.

Barbara Blackham, who turned up with six-year-old son Joshua, said: "What did they expect me to do with my child? I am irate that I have got to take time off work."

Head teacher Margaret Rookes said: "The decision to remain closed wasn't made until 4pm on Friday when the work wasn't finished and at that time there was no way we could make 450 telephone calls."