Vandals on rampage at Diss school

Vandals went on the rampage at Diss Church Junior School smashing 49 panes of glass in an orgy of destruction that forced the school to close today. Thousands of pounds of damage was caused, with shattered glass left strewn about the playground and inside the building and classrooms.

Vandals went on the rampage at Diss Church Junior School smashing 49 panes of glass in an orgy of destruction that forced the school to close today.

Thousands of pounds of damage was caused, with shattered glass left strewn about the playground and inside the building and classrooms.

Head teacher Keith Ridgway said it was only because of the hard work of members of staff who carried out a massive clean-up operation yesterday, and the efforts of a local builder, that they are able to open for lessons today.

He was alerted at 10pm on Tuesday - the incident having taken place between 8pm and 8.30pm that night at the premises in The Entry.

“Forty nine window panes had been broken of varying sizes - the four put out in the front entrance are quite large. The total cost is in the region of £5500, plus we have been told that one or two of the window frames have been damaged,” he said.

“We had more than a dilemma when I came down to school as there was a Year 4 Easter production (yesterday) and some of the parents had taken the day off. We looked at it every way to get the children in to school safely, but we couldn't let them play outside because of the broken glass, and at midnight on Tuesday we made the decision to close the school on health and safety grounds.”

Only two pupils arrived for school today and staff were able to contact their families to explain the situation.

Despite the disruption, there was good news about the Easter production.

“We have rejigged things so we will be able to complete the term and the children will be able to perform their play,” added Mr Ridgway.