School's fundraising efforts wiped out (From The Advertiser Series)

Police appeal after vandalism and theft at school

4:22pm Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield)

A SCHOOL’S festive fundraising efforts were in vain as the money it made will have to be spent repairing damage caused by burglars.

Thieves broke into storage sheds at West Cornforth Primary School and stole seven toy bikes and vandalised the play area used by the youngest pupils.

Three of the trikes have since been recovered after being dumped in the village.

Headteacher Janet Sarsfield said: “A farmers market before Christmas and school production, Santa’s Gone on Strike, raised over £1,000 which we were so pleased with.

“The vandals came in, pulled to pieces the foundation stage garden and ransacked the shed and took some bikes.

“All that wonderful fundraising by the school and parents should have been for extra curricular activities for children but just goes as we’ve now got to replace the bikes and repair the damage.

“We’re grateful that the community came forward to help get some of the bikes back.”

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident, which happened during the early hours of Sunday, December 30, and the missing trikes to contact PC Ken Barclay on 101.