VANDALS who have damaged a primary school play area days before the children are due to return have come forward, police have said.

Staff at St Cuthbert’s Primary School, in Crook, returned to school yesterday (Thursday, August 28) to find parts of the playground trashed.

A 6x4ft outdoor chalk board had been ripped off the wall and used as a skate ramp, wooden slats were broken off a play house and a sand-pit was so badly damaged it has to be thrown away.

The youths also left empty bottles, sweet wrappers and broken lighters lying on the ground.

Rosaleen Donnelly, head teacher at St Cuthbert’s, said there had been a few incidents over the last few weeks, but more since the caretaker has been on holiday.

“There had been some incidents from around February time, and the youths had been spoken to, but the caretaker came back yesterday and realised they had been back," she said.

“They’ve broken planks of wood from outside furniture to skateboard on in the main yard, so there’s wood debris all over.

“The chalk board in the reception area has been has been pulled down so the children won’t have the opportunity to write on that anymore. There are fewer things for the children to play with and learn from outside now.”

PC Tony Burgess, of Crook Policing Team, said: “We are pleased that they have come forward, along with their parents, and we have agreed to take a restorative approach.

“We were aware of the problems around young people going onto their land and causing a nuisance, however up until now they had never caused any damage.

“They left the play area in a dangerous state, and not only that, but nobody knows when they are there, so if they were to hurt themselves nobody would know about it.”

Mrs Donnelly added: “I’m annoyed and upset for the children as they aren’t going to be able to come back to nice tidy areas.

“We will need to explain to them what has happened and why things have been taken out and they shouldn’t have to listen to that. We are only a small school and can't afford to keep replacing things all the time.

"The teachers have spent weeks getting ready for the children coming back on Wednesday (August 3) which should be a happy and exciting time for them. It's a real shame."