School hit by vandals

Vandals went on a £15,000 wrecking spree at a Kidderminster school breaking 25 windows and smashing skylights.

Staff at St John's Middle School in Blakebrook were stunned when they returned to work after the Easter holiday to discover the widespread damage.

It was caused during at least four separate attacks which have left at least 25 windows broken,as well as four smashed skylights and several damaged security lights. A door was also damaged and venting cowls removed from the roof.

A team of glaziers worked around the clock to replace the damaged windows in time for the pupils first day back at school today.The school has been hit by vandals throughout the year with every skylight being systematically broken.

Police believe youngsters were responsible for the attack and are launching an initiative to go into schools to teach them about the impact of criminal damage.

Officers will take a special educational pack into schools which includes a CD Rom featuring a message from writer, actor and comedian Alexei Sayle about the effects of vandalism.

St John's headteacher Glyn Cape said: "It was really heartsinking to return to work after the holidays and be faced with such widespread, mindless vandalism. It has been getting worse in recent months but we never expected anything like this.

"Fortunately we repaired the glass in time for the return to the pupils. But we have already had one newly replaced pane of glass smashed. The local community must know who is responsible for this and they need to be handed into the police as soon as possible before they strike again."

Call officers on 08457 444888 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

By Sol Buckner