A County Durham school has been forced to close after it was hit by burglary over the weekend that has left school buildings and property damaged. 

Seaham High School put out a statement late on Sunday (March 19) to inform parents that the school would be closed 'until further notice' after the serious incident.

It's unknown at this time how much of the school is damaged - but the school said it was taking a 'precautionary measure' to protecting staff and students. 

Read more: A66 on County Durham and Cumbria border to be hit with roadworks

Parents were reportedly told about the burglary at around 10.15pm on Sunday - with Seaham High School apologising to parents for the 'inconvenience'.

In a statement obtained by The Northern Echo, headteacher of the school, Geoff Lumsdon, said: "I regret to inform you that our school has experienced a burglary and there has been some damage to the property. As a precautionary measure, we will need to conduct a full site inspection in daylight before reopening the school.

"Therefore, we kindly request that you do not send your child to school until you receive further notice from us.

"We understand this may cause some inconvenience but the safety of our students and staff is top priority. 

Read next: 

The statement added: "In addition to this, areas of the school will need to be analysed by the crime scene investigation team.

"We will keep you updated on the situation and provide you with information on when we will be able to reopen the school. Thank you for your cooperation."

Durham Police has been contacted by The Norther Echo.

More to follow.