CHILDREN at a Bolton-upon-Dearne primary were shocked and in tears when they found the devastation left by vandals after a frenzied midnight rampage through the school grounds.

A polytunnel used by the after school gardening club at Carrfield primary for environmental classes had been ripped to shreds, the door and supporting structure ripped down, plants pots tipped up and bedding plants trampled.

A table had been thrown over a six foot high metal fence into the playground where the wooden pitched roofs had been ripped off two planters which provided shaded seating for the children.

“The children just can’t understand why anyone would want to do that at their school after all the effort they’ve put into it,” said headteacher Steve Poxton.

“They’re also confused because we spend all our time teaching them good manners and respect so why should people do something like this? It flies in the face of what we’re trying to teach.”

Pupils and staff were shocked at the destruction which faced them when they arrived at school on Friday morning. It is believed that the vandalism occurred very late on Thursday night or in the early hours of Friday morning as there had been no reports of a disturbance.

“They had to climb a six foot fence to get into the school grounds and another to get to the polytunnel,” said Mr Poxton.

“I’m sending a letter to parents and I’m fed up of calling them pranksters so I’ll be calling them pathetic anti-social morons. The staff have rallied round and agreed not to send each other Christmas cards but will give a donation to help the rebuilding.”