An Andover secondary school has asked parents to help identify the perpetrators of a series of alleged incidents of vandalism by youths in the town centre.

Russell Stevens, the Headteacher of John Hanson Community School, wrote to parents following a letter from Councillor Stu Waue, who sits on the town council, in which the councillor asked for secondary schools across Andover to talk to their pupils about the dangers of such behaviour. There is no suggestion that students from these schools are involved.

In his letter to parents, Russell Stevens said: “I assured him [Cllr Waue] that the work we do within the school through our PSHE programme, tutor time and assemblies often addresses issues around the role our students play in society and their local community.

“We also discussed the fact that not only is the behaviour of a small number of Andover’s young people giving the vast majority a bad reputation, but this small group are putting themselves at significant risk of serious injury.

“If you have any information relating to the young people who may be involved, please contact the school. Not only will this potentially save children from serious harm, but go a long way to showing that most Andover children are actually wonderful human beings and a credit to themselves and their community.”

His letter follows the Advertiser’s report in which Andover Clothing Exchange founder Tania Hall said that vandalism of her unit was “becoming more and more of a problem”, with fears that a fire could be lit in the building following a bin being damaged by fire to the rear of the former Dorothy Perkins store. She claims she has been subjected to abuse and had floors rendered unusable following vandalism by young people climbing on the roofs of high street buildings.

The community have rallied around to support her, with donations for anti-climb paint and steps being taken by M&S, whose empty building adjoins the clothing exchange, to secure their building.