STAFF and pupils at a West Devon primary school were 'shocked and saddened' to see their well cared for garden area had been attacked by vandals recently.

Vandals targeted St Peter's School in Tavistock, smashing a woodland sculpture made by the children, pulling down and ripping apart a tent, disturbing the log seating, smashing two greenhouse panels, breaking and removing a shed window, tipping over and destroying all the potted plants, splitting open bags of compost and emptying the water butt.

Head of teaching and learning at the school Christiaan Stirling said: 'The children were shocked and saddened to discover their garden had been destroyed.

'They couldn't believe what they were seeing — the greenhouse was smashed, the shed was broken but worst of all the plants had been tipped out of their pots and ripped apart.

'It was heart-breaking for them after the hours and hours they had spent on their garden. However, after a few tears the children quickly began to support each other and tried to move on.

'They spent their gardening club time tidying the area with adult support. They then started to carry water down to the garden so they could water the few plants and vegetables that remained alive. One girl even went home and returned later with her mother and donated some more plants to the school.

'The children were equally as distraught to find their forest school had been vandalised, their shelters destroyed and sculptures smashed.

'We would be most grateful if our neighbours would continue to be vigilant and keep an eye out in the evenings and weekends and we would like to remind everyone that children should not be on the school grounds when the school is closed.'

Sgt Dave Anning at Tavistock Police Station said: 'One of the ways we deal with incidents like this is to bring the culprits into the school and have them explain their actions to the children whose work they have damaged.

'Anyone who has information regarding this incident should call PC Cath Veale.

'Somebody must have heard this happening — if people hear anything suspicious, particularly at night, they should call the police straight away, as there could potentially be a crime in progress.'

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact police using 101 or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800555111.