POLICE are investigating a failed attempt to set fire to a Leominster school.

Officers arrived at Leominster Infants School, Hereford Road, on Tuesday morning to carry out a forensic search after a burning piece of paper was thrown through a window that had been forced open.

Police received a call at 9.30pm the previous night after the school's alarm was set off.

The caretaker investigated but did not see any damage.

"We were very lucky. It was raining very heavily and it was windy and maybe this blew it out," said headteacher Meta Philpotts.

"This has happened before so we've taken extra precautions. People have tried to put fireworks through the letter box and this has been sealed up."

She added that many schools experience such problems in the run-up to November 5.

"There needs to be a general awareness that there are youngsters out there who will take a risk like this," she said.

Anyone with information can call PC Paul O'Reilly on 08457 444888.