Pupils write to police as thieves hit school again

FED-UP four and five-year-olds have written to police asking for help to stop thieves targeting their Kidderminster school.

Distraught children from Sutton Park First School's reception class took it upon themselves to put pen to paper after yobs smashed and stole their gardening equipment for the second time in less than three months.

Last week's attack came just two days after new replacement items were delivered to the Greatfield Road school.

Yobs got away with more than £500 of equipment including a large green plastic shed, storage container and tools.

It is thought the raiders may have been disturbed as another flat-packed shed was hauled on to a roof at the school and abandoned.

One young boy has written to Wyre Forest District Council asking for security cameras, while another girl penned a letter to police that read "please help stop this. It makes us all very sad".

Youngsters have also been busy making posters and signs to warn any would-be intruders to stay away from their garden, used to grow vegetables.

Val Adams, headteacher for nine years, condemned the latest attack describing it as "mindless".

She added: "I have never known a group of children so angry. When they found out it had happened again they were all so fed up. I do not think you can print what I think of these people at the moment.

"It does get increasingly difficult to answer questions from the children, asking why this sort of thing happens. It really is not fair."

Both incidents have targeted the school's central courtyard, which has been transformed from an overgrown patch into an outdoor classroom and gardening area thanks to three years of hard work by pupils and teachers.

Vandals caused more than £850 of damage in January when they broke into the premises and smashed and stole the original items paid for with cash from a special grant.

Mrs Adams promised to rally round to replace the items but confirmed any cash would have to come out of the school's budget.

She added: "We put in an insurance claim to get the funds for last time.We just cannot do that again so it will mean it coming out of our own money.

"I am determined to replace them though because the children have worked so hard and love the area. We have started to use anti-vandalism paint to try and make the school secure. There is not much more we can do."

Julie Wedgbury, West Mercia Constabulary spokeswoman, appealed to anyone who might have seen something suspicious on the school grounds, between 6pm on Wednesday, March 22, and 6am the following morning to contact police.

People with information should call Kidderminster Police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.