POLICE officers swarmed to St Luke's School in response to reports of criminal damage to vehicles following a football match which turned ugly.

Several car windows have been put through by bricks, according to a police spokesman who said officers went to the scene in Cricklade Road after receiving the call at 12.06pm today.

A football match between pupils from St Luke's and Knowle DGE school, in Bristol, went awry when rival players started fighting. One pupil needed hospital treatment for a facial injury.

One witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "There was a football match against a school from Bristol.  It all kicked off during the match.

"There were bricks being thrown at teachers' cars and all of the kids were fighting.  There were at least two kids covered in blood with cut heads. 

"Teachers were distressed. Loads of the kids were being restrained."

Several parents have told the Adver that children at the special school, for students with behavioural and emotional difficulties, have been sent home.

Teachers have been blockading the entrance and only allowing parents and the police access to the school.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at 12.06pm to reports of criminal damage to several vehicles. Cars have been damaged and some people were throwing bricks.

"Officers went to the scene but there have been no arrests at this stage."

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: "There was a football match this morning with a special school from outside Swindon, which was won by St Luke’s.

"As the visitors were getting onto their mini bus to return to their own school, they started to throw stones that were on the car park verge towards St Luke’s students, staff and parked cars.

"Staff got the St Luke’s pupils, who had started to respond to what was happening, into the school, but several students were hit by stones. One was hit on the head and received treatment on site, while another was taken to hospital with a nose injury.

"There was damage to four cars. Both students and staff were shaken by what happened and in view of that, the interim Head Teacher and Chair of Governors decided to close the school for the afternoon.

"Pupils were escorted off the site by parents, or buses and taxis came to collect them, although if parents could not be reached the students remained at the school.

"The police and ambulance services attended the scene. The school’s staff will be assisting the police fully in their investigations, which will include providing CCTV footage, and the council will provide any support to staff, parents and pupils that is needed."

Anyone with any information should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.