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Nicol Mere School reception class teacher Diane Haselden and site manager David Fairhurst with about 30 trees and shrubs that have been cut off
YOBS have caused heartbreak at a Wigan school by wrecking their treasured community garden.
During the summer holidays, vandals have broken trees and torn down six air conditioning units at Nicol Mere Primary School, in Roman Road, Bryn,
The air conditioning units, which cost £2,500 each, were also ripped from the school’s roof and smashed to pieces.
Paul Gubbins, headteacher, said: “We get vandalism from time to time, but they have really smashed the air conditioning units to pieces and ruined the trees.
“The worst area is in the infants playground as they have destroyed seven or eight lovely big trees by snapping them in half and flowers.
“It must have taken a lot of work to bring the air conditioning units down from the roof.
“There is a lot on the playground to clean up - it is going to take a lot of time and money to make it safe for the children.
“The children will be upset by this as they have spent a lot of time there, planting flowers.
“It is devastating, particularly because of all the hard work that the class have put into trying to make the environment better, with eco gardens, flowers and new trees.
“We have spent about £4,000 on it.
“But these people come along and undo everything nice that we have worked hard for.
“Quite a few youths come in the grounds at the weekend - if they are just kicking a ball around that is fine, but when they break things and leave broken bottles, it is not fair.
“It is always worse in the summer.”
Staff at the school will now begin clearing up the mess and repair the damage.
Neighbourhood Sergeant, David Johnston, said: “Quite what would make someone commit such a mindless act of vandalism on a local school is beyond me.
“We have an excellent relationship with the school and I want to reassure residents that our PCSOs have regular contact with staff as the building forms part of their patrol plan.
“If anyone has any information about who is responsible please get in touch.”
If anyone has any information, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Wigan
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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