A head teacher today pledged to tighten security at his school after a half-naked man wielding a carving knife allegedly threatened pupils.

The move by Eccleshill School head teacher Neil Donkin came after a man entered the school grounds brandishing a knife and is said to have shouted at terrified pupils and staff. The upper school on Harrogate Road is now to get state-of-the-art electronic security locks, a swipe card entry system and extra CCTV cameras to beef up its security.

The man, naked from the waist up, is alleged to have gone to the school in Harrogate Road armed with a knife.

Head teacher Neil Donkin said the man did not come in to the school building and no-one was injured.

"Some of the students and the staff were upset by what happened, but the police responded quickly and we were able to continue in school," Mr Donkin said. "We have looked at this as a warning and the Council has responded quickly in reviewing security."

Mr Donkin said security was a headache at the school, which is due to close under the reorganisation this summer.

"We have been very worried about security. We have been pressing for some years for more security and we have asked for a fence to be installed."

Half of the £6,600 cost was funded by the Council and the rest will come out of the school coffers.

Ian Davey, branch secretary of the National Association Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, said staff had been concerned for their safety.

"Our members are very, very upset and they are talking seriously about industrial action unless they are satisfied with what is done," said Mr Davey.

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed an incident took place at the school.

Parent Lynne Wheeler, 30, a creche worker, from Undercliffe, said: "As a parent I bring my child to school and I expect them to be safe until I pick them up again. Money that is spent on extra security is money well spent."

Eccleshill school has no perimeter fence and there are many unmonitored outside doors.

Due to the design of the building, pupils often have to go outside the school to move from class to class.

At present security is limited to CCTV cameras at the rear of the building. Some teachers working in outlying classrooms are also issued with walkie-talkies.

Officers from Bradford Council's education department staged an emergency meeting with staff last week, following the incident on Friday, February 4, to issue reassurances over security.

Philip Hoyle, School Security Officer said a review of security had been undertaken and improvements suggested as a result of the incident.

"We have suggested a number of measures including changing the type of security locks on external doors, using CCTV cameras and looking at ways of ensuring that pupils move from class to class inside the school wherever possible.

"We are now working with the school to jointly fund improvements because any incident involving a school is of serious concern.

"The safety of pupils and staff is paramount and we recommend schools to regularly review their security to see if changes are needed," said Mr Hoyle.

Teaching unions said they were happy with the council's swift response and would be keeping a watching brief to make sure the measures were implemented.

Ian Murch, who represents Bradford on the National Executive of the National Union of Teachers, said: "We have had an undertaking from the Local Education Authority that money will be spent on improving security and we are insisting that it is implemented as a matter of urgency."

(BLOB) A 36-year-old Bradford man has appeared in court charged with threats to kill and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was bailed to reappear before Bradford magistrates on February 29.

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