CHILDREN at a primary school are ‘devastated’ after vandals stole 30 goldfish and destroyed their wildlife garden.

The vandals struck St Philomena's Roman Catholic Primary School in Chelsfield Road, Orpington, during the half term leaving the youngsters to return on June 1 to find the fish gone, plants trampled on and the pond destroyed.

Marie Wood, of Cherry Orchard Road in Bromley Common, helped to set-up the garden, alongside another parent.

Both parents volunteer at the school to teach the youngsters about the wildlife, plants, and seeds within the garden.

Mrs Wood said: “The children are absolutely devastated and so upset.

“I just feel really angry and think they are really sad, it is the children who they have upset because it is their garden.”

The mum-of-two said she believes it will cost around £400 to replace everything and that the school could not afford to do this until September.

Headteacher of the school, Mary Riley, said: “I just feel sick because they have done it before but not as bad.

“I think the area is really bad at the moment, when I arrive in the morning my heart just sinks.

“These mums have given hours and hours of their time.”

Mrs Wood also said that in October the school’s scarecrow was burnt and in February concrete slabs were thrown into the pond.

The 36-year-old added: “It is an educational wildlife garden and everyone uses it.

“It makes you wonder why they have done it.

“it just seems senseless”

A spokesman for Bromley police also confirmed three other incidents at the school, which were attempted burglary, £100 of sweets being stolen from an outbuilding and £50 of lead being stolen.

These incidents took place between March last year and March this year.

A spokesman for Bromley police said: "This was a nasty, spiteful and mindless act of vandalism committed by anti-social members of the community.”

Anyone with information on this, or any other of the incidents, should call Bromley police on 01689 891212 or the Cray Valley East Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0208 284 8111.

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