SAFETY concerns have arisen over a low fence next to a Southampton school in light of the abduction of Madeleine McCann in Portugal.

Governors at Sinclair Nursery and Primary School in Lordshill have written to the city's education boss Clive Webster calling for urgent action on increasing the fence height.

The 4ft 6in wire fence runs between the back of the school and Lordshill Way. It will cost in the region of £6,000 to replace with galvanised steel fencing.

Head teacher Debbie Adamson said that the school had already identified the fence as needing replacing and work was now under way to carry it out.

She said that until a new fence is built staff would continue to stand guard near it to ensure that no child climbs over it and on to the busy road, and that strangers are kept out.

A Southampton City Council spokesman said: "The school has contacted us very recently to inform us of this situation and we are working with them to come up with an appropriate solution. This may involve the Safe Schools Initiative, which will assess the specific needs at Sinclair."