YOUNG vandals went on the rampage at two Maidstone schools at the weekend. Part of the gymnasium at Oldborough Manor Community School was destroyed by fire and windows at Five Acre Wood School, on the same site, were smashed.

Police officers called to the schools shortly after 1am on Sunday caught a glimpse of the reflective strips on the arsonists' trainers as they ran from the scene, but were unable to catch them.

The vandals had not only broken into the secondary school, they had deliberately set the school gym alight and the blaze quickly took hold of the many foam mats used for PE stored inside the building.

When firefighters arrived the blaze had already taken hold of the main gym and some nearby changing rooms.

Leading firefighter David Giuralarocca said: "It looked quite serious when we got there. There was a lot of foam matting alight but it looked worse than it was - as soon as we put water on it it died down quite quickly. It was lucky the school was so close to the fire station or it could have got quickly out of hand."

Two hours later, the fire was finally out and police forensic teams were combing the scene for clues. Fire investigators say that about 20 per cent of the gymnasium has been destroyed by fire, smoke and heat.

Police are also investigating the smashed windows at Five Acre Wood, a school for young pupils with special educational needs.