TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION LEFT AT SCHOOL

VANDALS STRIKE AGAIN WRECKING CHILDREN’S PLAY EQUIPMENT AND GARDENING TOOLS

VANDALS have once again left a trail of destruction at a Nuneaton school.

For the second week running, Middlemarch Junior School pupils were left distraught after another vandal attack.

The College Streetbased school has been targeted several times, with six expensive solar panels and important equipment being trashed.

This, according to Caroline Bowley, deputy head, is robbing the children of the chance to take part in many muchloved activities.

“Children’s play equipment, gardening tools and forest school supplies have all been destroyed or damaged, leaving children with very little to do during lunchtimes,” she said.

“Expensive solar panels have also been damaged leaving the school with thousands of pounds to pay at an already difficult financial time.

“The environmental area which was being further developed is now not able to be used due to the damage caused.”

But the impact of their actions is far more wide-reaching than just the damage, because of the vandalism in the environment area, special clubs have had to be suspended.

“We have had to postpone our nature school, that work cannot be car- ried out by the nurture group we have at the school,” she added.

“This has really saddened the children, and unnerved them a bit too.”

Having stepped up security around the large school grounds, as well as working with the police, the school is now asking residents and householders nearby to do their bit to help stop the attacks. “We would like to ask for support from the community to be ever vigilant and alert the police if intruders are seen to be on the school site,” the deputy head appealed. Anyone who sees the vandals in action or who have information about who is responsible for the spate of attacks should contact police on 101. Details can also be passed on to officers via the Crimestoppers hotline, which is free when calling from a landline and confidential, on 0800 555 111.

Children’s play equipment, gardening tools and school supplies have all been destroyed or damaged. Caroline Bowley