RAIDERS left pupils at a York private school terrified, after breaking into a changing room next to a controversial footpath.

A group of four teenage girls were rehearsing for a play in the drama block at St Peter's School, in Clifton, when the thieves struck - bursting open a changing room door and stealing their bags containing mobile phones, money and clothes.

The first the girls knew of the break-in was when they returned to find the door smashed open and their things gone at about 7pm on Thursday.

Parents and the school's headmaster, Richard Smyth, claim the thieves used a controversial public footpath, which is the subject of a public inquiry starting tomorrow, to get on to the school grounds.

Robert Beaumont, 51, from Boroughbridge, whose 14-year-old daughter, Emma, was one of the girls at the rehearsal, said she came home and cried.

"This path should clearly be closed as it poses a huge safety risk to pupils at the school," said Mr Beaumont.

"I think it's ironic that something like this should happen just as a public inquiry is about to be held into this path.

"It's quite wrong for all and sundry to be walking through the grounds of a school. This sort of incident strikes fear in to the hearts of parents - I dread to think what could have happened if these girls had been in the changing room."

Mr Smyth discovered the bags - minus the valuables - when he was out walking his dogs by the River Ouse on Friday morning.

He said: "I'm obviously very concerned and feel somewhat vindicated that we believe that this right of way is a danger to the security of our pupils.

"There has been a litany of criminal incidents over the years that are undermining confidence in the security of the site and in seeking the closure of this path our ultimate aim is the safety of the children."

A spokeswoman for York Police said investigations were ongoing and anyone with any information should phone 0845 6060247.

An order to close the path was abandoned last year after councillors decided the school's crime figures did not justify its closure.

But a legal slip-up by council officers meant the matter had to be debated again, a further committee meeting decided to send the matter to the Secretary of State.

Between October 2004 and June 2005, crime figures for the school showed 26 incidents including men injecting themselves with drugs in the grounds, stolen laptops, wallets and bikes, and gangs of youths found wandering inside the school. The school's proposals have divided councillors and sparked fury among local campaigners, who want the historic path to remain open.

The public inquiry will begin at 10am tomorrow, in the Guildhall.

Updated: 10:35 Monday, January 16, 2006