VANDALS have sawn down part of a Basingstoke school’s new woodland walk before its official opening tomorrow.

The neatly-sawn trees were discovered by the caretaker at Manor Field Junior School, Brighton Hill, on Monday morning as children returned from half-term.

The school, in Haydn Road, has been holding an Environment Week culminating in a picnic tomorrow with parents and the official opening of the woodland walk, which will still go ahead.

The area has been ornamented with willow structures, toadstool seats, wire mini-beasts and bird boxes.

Head teacher Jan Cushing, who has reported the incident to the police, will send letters out to parents appealing to anyone who heard or saw anything. She said the wooded area has a history of being used for fly-tipping and that has included a mattress, nappies and garden waste.

She said: “It’s so disappointing. When we told them in assembly, the children were just silent. It’s been desecrated.

“This has been done on a spot that’s been invested in for the children. Someone must have heard something. At least when people chuck rubbish we can get rid of it, but we can’t put the trees back.

“We’ve had support from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Kingfisher and Sentinel Housing Associations for the woodland walk, and we’ve had an artist in to make the willow structures, so the community has been involved.”

One of the pupils, 10-year-old Bradley Hollings, from Year 6, said: “We were shocked and devastated. It will be hard to get it sorted for Friday.”

The wooded area is separated from neighbouring gardens by a high, wooden fence.

Gloria Smith, of Vivaldi Close whose garden abuts the school’s fence, said: “I didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary.

“There are youths around here who break the fence, climb over it and chuck rubbish over.”

Anyone who saw or heard anything should contact Basingstoke police station on 101 or call the crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.