A HEADTEACHER has hit out after vandals ransacked her school at the height of the Beast from the East snow storm.

In the early hours of Friday, 2 March, three people were caught on CCTV trudging through deep snow in to the grounds of Manor Field Infant School, in Brighton Hill, where they caused up to £500 worth of damage to equipment.

Play equipment had been smashed, the sand pit had been kicked over and tables had been damaged. Even the plant pots which housed the seeds that the early years group had been growing were broken.

All the damage was to the early years group’s equipment, with the children aged between four and five-years-old.

Headteacher Susie Pietrzak said: “The damage that they have caused is pretty shocking.

“Staff and students should be safe and happy at the school, and at the time, they were unable to play outside, which they love and is a vital part of their learning and development.

"This wanton destruction has left us all really cross.”

The school, in Haydn Road, will be replacing the equipment in due course, but this comes with its own set of problems.

Mrs Pietrzak added: “The budget is tight already, and now to replace the damaged items, it will take money away from other projects.

"Some of the funds that were going to be raised from the disco now have to go back into this.

“I’m really cross that we are having to do this.

“The equipment had been left outside in preparation for the next day.

“It came as such a shock, and the equipment is for the use of the youngest pupils that we have in the school.

“It was the last thing that we expected to see, especially with the snow that had been coming down.

“We’ve had previous incidents when people have used the equipment out of hours, which we discourage, but it has never been damaged like it has been this time.”

Parents of children at the school were informed, and the class was told the next school day.

Mrs Pietrzak added: “The children were empathetic, and they knew that this was not a responsible action to do.

“The parents were appalled.”

If anyone can help the school, they can get in contact on adminoffice@manorfield-inf.hants.sch.uk.

Hampshire Constabulary said it is investigating the incident and enquiries are ongoing.

Call police on 101 with any information, quoting 44180080460.