YOUNGSTERS at Whitchurch Primary have issued a blunt message to vandals: Stay out of our school grounds.
The school has been the target for vandalism, particularly last weekend, with damage to equipment being used to build a new library and classroom. School gardens prepared by pupils and staff have also been attacked.
The vandalism prompted 13 pupils, aged 8 to 11, to write to the Times saying they were 'incredibly upset' with the amount of damage.
'We would like everyone to stay out of the grounds so that we can feel safe and know that the things we do to make our school look better won't be damaged,' they wrote.
'Some of the plants that the youngest children in the school planted have been spoilt and a garden area we are working on had the plants ripped out..'
The more damage done to the building work the longer it would take to finish and the more it would cost.
'We are very sad, angry and hurt by this action, please, whoever you are, stop now,' said the pupils.
The letter was signed by Sarah Barratt, Chloe Solman, Laura Banks, Claire Boyle, Jessica Dunk, Katie Adams, Ellyn Medgicks, Lizzie Harland, Bryony Hitchon, Callan Masters, Sean Cleave, Mike Morgan and James McLean.
The school has informed the police of the attacks and asked parents to report anyone seen in the grounds after school hours.