SICKENING - that was a Blackpool headmaster's verdict after burglars devastated his school at the weekend (September 11-12), stealing nearly £12,000 worth of computers.

All 26 classrooms at Waterloo Primary School, South Shore, were ransacked, cupboards overturned, play areas smashed, ink spattered and excrement left by cold-hearted raiders who smashed a rear window to enter sometime between 6pm on Friday (September 10) and 7.15am Monday (September 13).

Headteacher Peter Rawcliffe said: "It's literally sickening to walk into a school and see it's been broken into like this.

"It's going to cost the school thousands of pounds to replace all the equipment.

"I've been here 10 years and I've lost count of the number of times we've been burgled.

"It's been less regular since we've been alarmed up, but unfortunately the alarm failed to function this time.

"It has been checked and it is now in full working order."

The loss of six computers, hard drives, printers and monitors had affected administration badly, he said, but many of the school's 26 staff rolled up their sleeves to help the clean-up and lessons began on time regardless.

"We're like the Windmill Theatre, we never close," said the indomitable Mr Rawcliffe.

Some, however, will miss out on information technology until the insurers give clearance for replacements.

None of the 635 pupils had to be sent home - though four- and five-year-olds, whose three classrooms were worst hit, had to be taught elsewhere in the building.

A police spokesman said: "We would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious near the school over the weekend.

"These people must have had some sort of vehicle to transport the equipment and perhaps gone back and forth with it."

Anyone who can help can ring police on (01253) 293933 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.