A FACTORY owner locked himself in his premises after being terrorised by a gang of marauding school students.

Roger Spivey said he was frightened the 40-strong gang would turn on him after they caused damage to his van outside his Paddock factory yesterday afternoon.

Now he has received a public apology from staff at Royds Hall High School and a promise the matter will be investigated.

Police are also making inquiries after the gang turned up outside Mr Spivey’s textile machinery engineering premises in South Street at lunchtime yesterday.

The premises are behind a parade of shops in Church Street, Paddock, about 400 yards from the school.

Mr Spivey said: “I was inside the factory when I heard a tremendous amount of noise outside.

“It sounded like a roar and when I went outside to have a look, I saw a group of people, perhaps 40 or 50 of them, milling about at the factory gates. They were mainly boys, perhaps aged between 14 and 16, but there were some girls as well.

“There seemed to be two boys fighting and the rest were egging them on. One of the boys then sprawled across the bonnet of my works van, which was parked by the gates, and I went to remonstrate and move them on.

“The fighting stopped and the whole lot turned on the van. They kicked in the headlights and dented the body panels, causing a lot of damage.

“I was genuinely frightened and I locked myself back in the premises because I feared they would turn on me”.

Mr Spivey, who said there had been no previous incidents with youngsters from the school, contacted police.

“The youngsters were clearly wearing Royds Hall uniforms, which are instantly recognisable.

“I went to the school and spoke to the police liaison officer who is based there and he promised to investigate”.

Jeremy Haigh, deputy head teacher at Royds Hall, said a number of those involved had already been identified.

“I have spoken to Mr Spivey and apologised personally to him on behalf of the school. I have also promised that we will sort out the damage to his van.

“We are investigating the matter thoroughly, as are the police, and we are all appalled at what has happened.

“Royds Hall does a lot of good work within the community and the police liaison officer who works in the school was as surprised as I was by what has happened.

“It does seem that it was a small minority of people who were the instigators of this problem but they have let themselves down and let the school down.

“They will be brought to book and their parents will be informed”.