WRECKERS have struck at an award-winning sensory garden at a Whitefield special school, smashing a waterfall and trees.

The extent of the damage shocked staff and pupils at Elms Bank High which caters for children with visual and hearing impairments.

The thugs attacked the garden over the weekend, damaging the waterfall, breaking into a garden shed and ripping branches from two trees.

Headteacher Ms Lynn Lines said: "We are shocked by what has happened. The garden had been looking lovely.

"The vandals broke a waterfall which runs down the banking in the sensory garden, smashing the bottom part . Now we are going to have to replace it.

"They also tore branches off our monkey puzzle and weeping willow trees."

She added: "As far as the monkey puzzle tree is concerned, we don't know if it will grow after what has happened."

The louts also broke into a shed containing tools and gardening equipment, smashed windows and threw paint around.

It was the second vandal attack within the school grounds in recent weeks. In the first incident, ornamental stone fish and frogs were smashed.

Ms Lines continued: "We put up fencing around the sensory garden some time ago and the attacks stopped.

"But now they have started again. It's so very disappointing."

Elms Bank secured £12,000 in grants to establish the sensory garden to act as a peaceful haven for the school's pupils.

The garden, which was officially opened two years ago, went on to win a "Bury in Bloom" class and was in the running for a similar award this year.

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