Anger as school attacked

VANDALS wreaked havoc at an Ipswich special school upsetting students and forcing lessons to be cancelled.

Glass rained down on the library and swimming pool changing rooms at Belstead School after vandals smashed several skylights over the weekend.

Headteacher Sue Chesworth said: "This is deliberate vandalism. Someone has been up on the roof and shouldn't have been. A shed is also damaged.

"I am fed up. There are very vulnerable young people here. Not only have they not been able to swim but this has put people at risk because of the glass."

Students also missed out on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) classes because computers in the library were showered in glass.

The computers were not damaged but were too dangerous to use.

Mrs Chesworth added: "There are one or two children here with autism who can find change very difficult. They have found it hard.

"I do not know the value of the damage but we are talking about nine or ten reinforced windows."

The windows have now been boarded up and police have visited the school where they have taken details of the crime. Their reports estimate damage in the region of £1,800.

Although much of the glass has now been removed, staff at the school are still distressed about the damage caused.

Mrs Chesworth said: "They are angry and very stressed. It is an inconvenience and a danger.

"We haven't had much vandalism for the last two or three years. This is the worst lot for a long time."

The damage was caused between 6pm on Friday and 7.30am yesterday .

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact Pc Simon Burman at Capel St Mary police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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