A HEADTEACHER and his pupils are hoping eagle-eyed residents will help them to find 40 stolen budgies.

The pets were taken from Pointer School, Stratheden Road, Blackheath, at 2am by a gang who were caught on CCTV on February 4.

They climbed over walls into the playground to get to the aviary.

The yellow, white and rainbow budgies were carried away in six of the school's bird breeding cages worth around £40 each.

Two red-rump parakeets and two red-beaked grass finches were also stolen.

At 4pm the previous day, two boys and a girl were captured on CCTV, climbing the school's walls and lurking around the playground.

A white van was also seen crawling along Langton Way, outside the school's grounds.

Headteacher Robert Higgins said: "I've no idea why they would do a thing like this.

"It's not like they were of huge value, maybe £1,500, but they brought a lot of pleasure.

"They think they have got away with this but we have it on CCTV, so they haven't been as clever as they think."

The 51-year-old introduced the birds to the school 12 years ago to brighten up the environment and get children interested in nature.

He added: "They all had aluminium ring tags around their left legs with HIG1 on them, which is my Budgerigar Society name and number.

"Anyone offered one of the birds should get in touch with the police.

"Birds make a lot of noise and if anyone has suddenly started to hear squawking, they should wonder if they are our birds."

Three young men captured on CCTV are described as between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in, in their late teens and wearing hoods.

A Greenwich police spokesman said: "It is now an ongoing investigation and we are looking at the CCTV."

Anyone with information can call police on 020 8284 5444.