'I don't like Mondays' killer refused parole

The schoolgirl killer who inspired the Boomtown Rats number one I Don't Like Mondays has lost her bid for parole.

Brenda Spencer was 16 when she opened fire at a San Diego school, killing two people and injuring eight others in January 1979.

The 38-year-old, who has spent 22 years behind bars, was refused by the California Parole Board.

Spencer has claimed she now feels responsible for some of the other school killing sprees in the US.

She inspired the record penned by Bob Geldof by telling officers why she did it. She said: "I just started shooting, that's it. I just did it for the fun of it. I just don't like Mondays ... I just did it because it's a way to cheer the day up. Nobody likes Mondays."

The disturbed teenager took up a position outside the Cleveland Elementary School and waited for the principal to open up.

Once school children began to arrive she opened fire - and carried on shooting for around 20 minutes.

She killed the principal and school caretaker, injured eight pupils aged between six and 12, and shot a policeman in the neck.

She was convicted on two counts of murder and is currently serving two 25-year to life sentences.

The .22 semi-automatic pistol and 500 bullets she used was a Christmas present from her father. A week earlier she had said that she was going to do something big to get on TV.