BLACKPOOL primary school pupils are delighted to be back online after burglars stole their computers.

William Knight, whose Whitegate Drive-based company CCST provides high-tech services to firms across the country, has donated three reconditioned computers to Waterloo Primary School after it had six machines stolen in September.

Mr Knight - whose son Daniel, 6, is a pupil at the school - said: "We're part of a community support group, with the council and several other bodies, and we're trying to give as much help to the community as we can.

"We've just upgraded some of our machines and what could be better than to give them to the children, who are the future of the community."

The donation, with back-up and networking services, is worth £4,000. The company has also given 35 second-hand computers to Fylde Coast community care groups.

Headteacher Peter Rawcliffe said: "I'm absolutely delighted and very grateful that somebody is making a practical contribution to helping the school.

"We try to establish links with the community and it's nice that they respond in our hour of need."

The computers are now installed in the early years classrooms which were completely wrecked by intruders on the weekend of September 10-11. The £13,500 raid also included office software which disrupted administration for weeks. A month later burglars stole a TV and VCR, but a kind-hearted neighbour donated her unwanted VCR after reading about the raid in the Citizen.

Mr Knight's company is offering an hour's free tuition on Microsoft office packages to any school that needs it - call (01253) 291912.

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