VANDALS have damaged a window and greenhouse used by pupils at Bellingham First School.

The gardening area which houses the greenhouse, owned by local gardeners Edwin and Pat Wilkinson, has been used in partnership with the school for the past eight years.

However, damage caused to the area saw plants ripped up, compost bags torn and turned upside down and flooding due to a tap being left on.

Edwin Wilkinson, said: “My wife is very upset, and she initially vowed to never return, but has since changed her mind.

“We’re down there every day maintaining the area, and the clean up only took around half a day.

“It ‘s such a big area so there’s not much we can do to protect it any more. If we added a security lock on the greenhouse then it’s likely to be smashed.”

A school hall window was also damaged after a weight from the goal posts on the school field was thrown against it.

Wendy Goddard, headteacher at Bellingham First School, said it is believed the damage occurred during the half term holiday between Monday, May 27 and Friday, May 31.

Fund-raising set up to raise money to compensate and repair the damage to the gardening club has raised £255 to date. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Northumbria Police quoting reference number 210 of the 4/16/19.