Leaders of Lancing College want to step up security to protect pupils from strangers.

An Adur District Council planning report states people have been approaching teenagers at the boarding school. It wants to install four CCTV cameras at strategic points around the site.

Planners will have to balance the undesirable effect of cameras on the college's grade I and II buildings against pupils' safety when they consider the matter on April 24.

Headmaster Peter Tinniswood was unavailable for comment but the report said: "The college's security manager has stated that the CCTV cameras are required in order to improve security at the school following several recent incidents where pupils have been approached by individuals.

"In particular, the problem arises because there is no physical divide between the private areas of the school and the chapel and adjacent car parking area, which are open to the public."

The report said security manager Sam Woodger thought it was "imperative" that full CCTV coverage was introduced at the car park and the Head's House.

Lancing College is an independent boarding college for 13 to 18-year-olds set in the Sussex Downs, near the A27 Shoreham flyover.

Despite the report, college bursar Pauline Bulman said she was unaware of any pupils being troubled by strangers and said: "We have improved security enormously.

"We have a chapel on site and it is open to the public and have visitors which are nothing to do with the college.

"We cannot vet every single visitor to the college but we want to make sure we have a record of everyone that comes on to the site, not in a sinister way."

The application also includes two pole-mounted cameras at the end of College Drive and near a boiler house.