SCHOOL GARDEN WRECKED
VANDALS GO ON RAMPAGE JUST DAYS AFTER POND OPENS
A school has slammed vandals after its new wildlife garden was trashed just days after it opened.
Pupils, staff and parents were left devastated after finding the woodland plot at New Seaham Academy had been damaged when they arrived for classes yesterday morning.
Large wooden cable spools, which were to be used during outdoor lessons, were hurled into the pond in a trail of destruction, which means the school’s annual winter wonderland celebrations will now have to be cancelled.
The area was created at a cost of £2,500, but it is feared the pond may have to be replaced from scratch if its lining has been pierced.
It is the latest in a long line of incidents, which have included theft of materials being used to build an extension, damage to plaster work after intruders have walked on the roof of the school, in Byron Terrace, and theft of a CCTV system to try and catch the yobs.
A fence put up to try and keep vandals out has also b e e n d a m a ge d , w i th th e school believing planks of wood have been stolen for people to use in their own gardens and allotments.
A group of five boys, aged about 12 to 14, are believed to b e h i n d th e i n c i d e nt s , which have escalated since the summer holidays.
Principal Bernadette Dolan said the school has had enough of the attacks and called for an end to the damage and theft.
She said: “Just last week we opened this wildlife garden and pond.
“It is part of the children’s curriculum and the idea is to help them learn and play an active part in their science lessons, looking at what is around, the plans, the wildlife, and pond dipping and looking at everything that’s down there.
“We’ve tried putting in fencing and other measures, but the position we’re in, if someone wants to get in they will and we shouldn’t be in a situation where we have to take security measures, it’s horrendous.
“I’ve rang the police on 101 so many times and they come out and give us a crime reference number, but they s ay th e re’s n oth i n g to b e done.
“We are a school, not a business, and we don’t have money to spare and this is tax payers’ money.
“The children are gutted and we have already had two classes who went down to use it and they loved it.”
Te n - y e a r - o l d G e o r g e Teasdale is among the pupils who have been left upset by the latest attack.
“People around here have come in and totally wrecked it,” he said.
“The whole school was absolutely devastated that they have done this..”
A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “The incident is believed to have happened overnight.
“Investigations are ongoing into the incident and we would like to reassure local residents and the school that officers will be paying particular attention to the area while on their patrols.
“We would encourage anyone who saw any suspicious activity to get in touch with us on 101, quoting incident number 45 of November 15.”