Volunteers are patrolling schools in Chichester to stop more night-time arson attacks before term starts next week.

Some schools in the area have called on parents to take turns in watching school buildings in case the firebug strikes again.

A police operation has been launched to provide schools in the city with a round-the-clock watch after the incidents.

Officers will be keeping an eye on Chichester classrooms during the last week of the school summer holidays.

The move follows a week of arson attacks against schools in Chichester.

Arsonists struck at Littlemead School at Shopwhyke, Chichester, on Sunday morning and last Wednesday a classroom at St James's Primary School was destroyed in a blaze.

On Thursday, two classrooms in a timber-framed building at Chichester High School for Girls was gutted in a blaze which started at 1am.

Police cars are patrolling the area and officers are asking anyone if they have seen anything suspicious.

Meanwhile, arsonists set fire to two barns and farm buildings last night. Police do not believe the spate of school fires and the farm attack are linked.

Around 500 tons of hay and straw went up in flames but staff at the farm in Westerton, near Chichester, managed to rescue items of equipment relatively undamaged from nearby outbuildings.

More than 35 firefighters tackled the blaze after nearby residents reported the fire at 9.11pm.

A specialist vehicle was brought in after concern was raised about asbestos in the barn roof.

Environmental Health experts were called and took samples of the lethal substance but said due to a south-westerly wind the asbestos would not affect local residents.

Two crews from Chichester and one from Bognor Regis were called and two appliances stayed at the site overnight to damp down the fire.

An investigation into the cause will take place but firefighters believe the fire was started deliberately.

Due to the poor water supplies to the village, Portsmouth Water Company was called in to boost supplies as well as a water carrier from Littlehampton.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire Brigade said: "The cause of the fire is under investigation. However, with two separate barns well alight on arrival it is probable that the cause was deliberate."