"PRETTY thoughtless" vandals caused more than £1,000 worth of damage when they went on a wrecking spree at a Vale school.

Staff returned to St Nicholas Middle School in Pinvin after the Christmas holidays last Thursday to find 12 classroom windows had been smashed along with ten panes of glass in the greenhouse.

Eggs had also been thrown at several windows in the attack, which happened sometime between 6pm on December 17 and 8.30am last Thursday.

The vandals also targeted the first school on the same site, breaking open bags of salt, which they poured on flowerbeds and the playground, as well as pulling drainpipes from the walls and smashing them.

It is not yet known what was used to cause the damage - estimated at around £1,200 - although police believed catapults might have been used as rocks and stones were found nearby

Acting headteacher, Peter Redfern, said: "It's difficult to tell what they used but they must have used quite a lot of force because they were toughened windows.

"I don't think the damage was caused by current pupils because they have considerable pride in the school.

"I think it was caused by pretty thoughtless vandals because they have cost the school a lot of money, which should be going on the children's education."

He added that all the damage had now been repaired and that pupils had gone back to school on Monday.

Anyone with information should contact police on 01905 723888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.