PEOPLE from around Headless Cross showed real community spirit after vandals trashed the reception classroom at St Luke's First School and stole a projector worth hundreds of pounds.

The damage at the Plymouth Road school, estimated at about £3,000, was discovered at about 7am last Wednesday.

As well as the vandalism, a Sharp projector worth £500 was taken.

Headteacher Susan Shaw said the classroom had been refurbished through the summer holidays in anticipation of its new intakes preparing for their first day at school.

Miss Shaw said: "A complete refurbishment had been carried out and everything in the classroom was brand new. A lot of hard work had gone into it.

"This has been very distressing for everyone from the school community, especially the young children who were just about to join us for the first time.

"But, thanks to governors, staff, parents and members of the Headless Cross community, we had the new youngsters into their classroom by lunchtime.

"Everyone really rallied around us and carried out temporary repairs so the disruption was kept to as little as possible.

"My staff and myself are extremely grateful for the way people supported us."