VANDALS have wrecked a sensory garden created by children at a Burnley school for three of their classmates who are blind or partially-sighted.

More than 50 shrubs have twice been uprooted within two weeks of being planted by the pupils at Casterton Primary School.

They have already been replanted by caretaker Keith Crowther only for headteacher Judith Williams to arrive at the school yesterday to find they had again been uprooted, scattered around the grounds and used for target practice against the school walls.

Mrs Williams said: "The pupils will be upset. I am sure it has not been done by the younger children because they have worked so hard on the project.

"They have helped to raise the money through a sponsored walk, jog and run and some have even brought in jars of pennies which they have saved from their pocket money."

The sensory garden was part of a £12,000 scheme to upgrade and develop the school grounds involving the children, staff, governors, parents and the Lancashire County architects.

The children planted shrubs on the Thursday before breaking up for the Easter holidays.

Their disabled friends enjoyed touching and smelling the lavender and other scented plants.

But over the next weekend many of the plants were uprooted.

They were replanted by the caretaker but now they have been ripped out again.

Mrs Williams said: "We need to get them back in the ground again or they will die. What has happened is just mindless vandalism.

"I am appealing for people who live near to the school to be vigilant, to keep their eyes open and to let the police know if they see anything happening."