Police searching for vandals who attacked school animals

Children broke into Goldthorpe Primary School’s grounds, before trashing outdoor play equipment and damaging ecology projects.

One thug was allegedly heard boasting about kicking the pupils’ pet ducks and trying to make them fight each other.

The school’s award-winning eco scheme teaches pupils about wildlife conservation, sustainability and recycling.

Many lessons are taught outdoors, but the facilities were closed while teachers repaired damage and removed rude graffiti.

Teacher Christopher Wharton, the school’s Eco-Schools ambassador, said: “This isn’t the first time this has happened, but this time there was extensive damage.

“There was damage to the children’s poly tunnel, outdoor classroom, storage shed and animal enclosures.

“We want people in the community to be aware of what’s happening and what we have to deal with.”

The school’s animals \_— which include chickens, ducks and a peahen \_— will now be moved indoors.

Pupils tend a vegetable garden, with produce going into school dinners, and enter veg-growing contests.

“I don’t understand why someone would break into a primary school and damage facilities for children,” said Mr Wharton.

Police are asking anyone who has any information about the damage, which happened between 5pm on Friday, April 29 and 7.30am on Tuesday, May 3, to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 258 of May 3.