12:26pm Monday 23rd November 2009
By Sam Chadderton
THE long-serving headteacher of a Darwen nursery persistently targeted by vandals says this is the worst year ever for damage.
Pat Rudd claims the latest spate of ‘pointless vandalism’ to the outdoor facilities at Turncroft Nursery School, Highfield Road, will cost more than £1,000 to fix.
A group of around six youths were reported by neighbours damaging a Perspex pram shelter and kicking in the door of a play shed at around 5.30pm on Sunday.
Mrs Rudd said: “Neigh-bours alerted the police but are terrified of coming out because they get things thrown at their houses.
“Eighteen months ago we spent £38,000 improving our outdoor facilities.
“Now we’re going to have to put a stainless steel door on a second shed because of vandalism.
“Our wooded area, which we want to keep for the children’s important natur-al experience, has been targeted. We’ve even had to have settees removed at our expense.”
The play shed was set up with a kitchen area, tables, beds and a play area – with the curtains left open to show would-be thieves that nothing of value was inside.
Mrs Rudd added: “They’ve just done it for the sheer hell of it. With the atrocious weather, what must their parents think they’d been doing, coming in soaking wet and filthy? Our children are upset. I’ve contacted the local high schools to ask them to highlight it. The kids probably came here themselves.
“We can ill-afford these constant repairs. It would have been worse if not for the vigilance of neighbours.
“These last 12 months have been the worst spate of vandalism in my 19 years here.
Neighbourhood sergeant Mark Wilson confirmed that police had responded to the incident, but had not yet made any arrests.
He said: “We’ll be looking into it. Certainly if a problem is flagged up, we’ll throw resources at it. The neighbourhood team is on until 9pm every night and midnight at weekends.”
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