TAVISTOCK police are investigating a series of break-ins at one of the town's primary schools, following a recent incident in which goalposts there were set on fire.
Vandals forced the locks on the changing rooms of St Peter's School in Greenlands a fortnight ago. They removed timber stored there and made a bonfire using the goalposts.
Headteacher John George said: 'We've had a series of break-ins in the changing rooms, but this time the vandals took the timber and had a bonfire.
'They took the goalposts down and put those on the bonfire too. They even brought a frying pan down to do some cooking. That was two weeks ago but I've had enough and have called the police in.'
Mr George said the timber was stored in the changing rooms for use at the summer fairs.
'It's the nuisance value really, more than the cost in monetary terms although that does count,' he said. 'It won't hinder the summer fair, but we'll have to buy more timber for the carnival and we've obviously got to replace the goalposts.'
This is not the first incident of its kind. There was a fire at the school last summer when vandals burnt some wooden picnic tables.
'We just don't leave anything out now.'
Mr George said he thought some of the local youngsters used the changing rooms as a meeting place — drink and cigarette containers have been found — and he was fairly sure they knew who the culprits were.
The locks on the changing rooms have just been upgraded and the school has put in a bid to the education authority to improve security in the grounds, although the actual school building is very secure, said Mr George.
'It would be nice if we could leave the school grounds open for the children to play in — it's very sad if they are not doing any harm, they need a place to play.'