A school is shut today for the second day running after thieves stole 30 metres of power cable, cutting off its electricity supply.

And because of repeated thefts and break-ins at Castle Hill Community Primary School in Folkestone security guards are patrolling the premises.

Head teacher Peter Talbot said: "We have been plagued with incidents ever since we opened two years ago. They cause enormous amounts of disruption to the school."

Guards began watching the premises last night after the fourth theft of cable in the two months.

Since the school opened under the name Castle Hill in January 2007 there have been repeated thefts of lead from the roof and the taking of laptops and cameras.