A HAMPSHIRE school has installed cutting edge technology in a bid to foil potential thieves.

A new system of marking lead with coded microdots was put in place at the new eco-friendly building at Bramdean’s Brockwood Park School.

When the lead is melted down, the dots are simple for refiners and authorities to recover and trace to their original location.

Architect and site manager, Mike Davies, said: “Lead is traditional, aesthetic and easily recyclable and alternative materials do not meet our standards, which is why we wanted to use it. The only problem was stopping it from being stolen.”

Trace-in-Metal, a Hampshire-registered company, developed the method of firing coded microdots into lead at a precise velocity.

John Minary, of Trace-in-Metal, said: “Lead theft from churches and heritage buildings is a huge problem.

“Schools are at risk because they are empty for long stretches during the holidays.”

The government has new laws in place to tackle the pressing problem of metal theft.

Later this year a requirement for scrap metal dealers to hold a license will be introduced, with cash payments for metal already banned.