VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds of damage at a primary school after destroying a children’s allotment site.

The extensive destruction was caused at St John’s Primary School in Great Harwood, where vegetables and flowers were being grown by children.

School headteacher Darren Mussell said he had been left outraged by the incident.

He said: “They have targeted plants, plant pots and trellis as well as the beds where the children were growing things.

“The damage is so extensive that if anything could be broken it has been broken.

“The Eco Club that uses the area is made up of children from five to nine-years-old who have spent time digging, preparing and planting to help make our school a little greener.”

Mr Mussell said the site has been very popular with youngsters at the school in Nuttall Avenue since it was put in place just over a year ago.

The school recently won a bronze “Eco-schools” award and was planning to go for a silver this year.

Mr Mussell: “As a result of the vandalism, we are now looking at a bill of up to £1,000 or more to replace all of the damaged property.

“We are also now having to consider CCTV and some other security measures –– which will then cost us a further £5,000 to install. This all means that from next year’s budget there will be around £6,000 less to spend on resources to support our pupils learning in school.

“The children from the Eco Club are very upset, not only as a result of all the damage that has been done but also from the news that this may mean the end of the Eco Club.

“We cannot afford to replace all the equipment and plants each time they have been destroyed.”

He said he suspects some of the culprits of the vandal attack may be former pupils of the school, a thought whichhe described as “horrendous”.

Police are investigating the damage.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the police on 0845 125 3545.