Heartache of louts’ attack at Kirkham school

A willow igloo and a number of arbours have been ripped from the ground and broken by yobs who broke into The Willows school grounds in Kirkham between Friday and yesterday.

The pieces, which also include a 20m long tunnel, were put together by up to 100 adults and children around six weeks ago as part of a community effort to create a nature trail with woodland for the schools.

The project cost £1,000, which was raised by the Parents, Teachers and Friends Association.

Willows headteacher, Sharon Barnett said: “Everyone is extremely upset by what’s happened.

“It’s not just about the pride and protection of our children, but we are trying to develop our beautiful grounds into a place where ourchildren will enjoy learning.

“Whoever’s done this doesn’t respect what we are trying to do and they have unwoven the structures, which took some time to put together, and broken the willow.”

Mrs Barnett said the school, on Victoria Road, was in the process of developing its whole outdoor area as a Willows Wonder Walk to make it a more exciting place for children to learn.

Other schools will be invited to visit the outdoor area, which spreads to The Willows church, near to the school on Ribby Road.

She added: “We are all devastated about it as more than 100 people worked so hard and gave up so much time to create the structures and plant more than 400 trees.

“This was the first phase of a bigger project to develop a meadow area, an outside classroom, pond and wildlife area.

“Everyone took part in starting off this project – it was a fantastic day when everyone pulled together to help us.

“What’s happened will have affected everybody in the community and we just want to know why it’s happened.”

Blackpool Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident as criminal damage. Anyone who saw anything, or knows who may have been responsible, is asked to call police on 101.