YOBS caused thousands of pounds' worth of damage and the closure of a New Forest school after breaking in and turning two taps on.

Ceilings collapsed, computers were swamped with water and carpets soaked following the attack at Hardley School.

A police investigation is now under way to find the vandals who are believed to have broken into the 1,050-pupil school near Fawley on Friday night and turned on hot and cold taps in a cleaners' cupboard which has sink and storage facilities.

The flooding - discovered yesterday morning - was so serious that more than a dozen firefighters from Hythe as well as St Mary's and Redbridge, South-ampton, spent almost three hours pumping the water away.

All pupils were turned away from the site yesterday and only some will be able to return today.

It could be next week before all students are back at school.

Now teachers and pupils are hoping that vital examination coursework, which was safely stored above floor level, has not been lost. But computers which have work stored on them will have to be examined.

Head teacher Robert Under-wood said: "What they did is totally out of proportion with the damage that has been caused. Obviously we want to know who did the damage."

Mr Underwood explained that after overflowing from a blocked sink, the water seeped through to first-floor classrooms, along corridors and down into the

cavities above suspended ceilings, several of which collapsed into ground-floor rooms.

In one room, 15 computers were drenched with water and a staffroom computer was also soaked.

After being closed to all its pupils yesterday, it is set to be reopened for years nine, 10 and 11 and the sixth form today and tomorrow.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Chris Orr at Hythe Police Station on 0845 045 4545.