School has decided to shut its "back door" gates to improve the safety of its pupils and reduce vandalism.

People have been using a service road at Cooper School in Churchill Road, Bicester, as a shortcut from the town centre to housing estates in the Glory Farm and Launton Meadows area.

But after a series of problems, including broken windows, rubbish bin fires and people riding mopeds over sports pitches, the school has decided to close the grounds.

Headteacher Andrew Hamilton said: "Governors and the leadership team have become increasingly concerned about the safety of pupils on the site and the difficulties we are experiencing in carrying out our duty of care to pupils.

"The gates are being closed for safety and security. The road also provides an easy route for truants to leave unobserved. In today's increasingly litigious society, with the perceived higher level of risk to children, the school must take and be seen to take, appropriate steps to protect pupils from harm."

He added that the closure would reduce the number of strangers going through the campus and create only one entrance to the school through main gates off Churchill Road.

Pupils going home for lunch would have to use the main gates.

The service road originally provided access to Glory Farm primary school, Bardwell School, Rainbow playgroup and the Buffers family support centre, but is no longer needed as a new access has been provided off Hendon Place/Sunderland Drive.

The metal gates across the road will be closed except for a short time in the mornings and afternoons to allow pupils in and out of school. The gates will be open in term time from 8am to 8.45am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and also from 3.15pm to 4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday afternoons when the school has a different timetable the gates will be open from 2.15pm to 3pm.