CHILDREN learned a painful lesson about the effects of crime - after burglars stole their school computer system.

But now they have joined the anti-drugs crusade after police recovered the equipment. The 10 and 11-year-olds from Meadowhead Junior School, Anglesey Street, Blackburn, were distraught when the computer system was stolen during a break-in in January.

The children used the equipment to draw pictures, play games and store work.

Police told them many local burglaries were committed by drug addicts desperate to buy heroin.

Pupils are so grateful to Blackburn Police that 30 of them have written thank-you letters to DC Steve Dowson and DC Adrian McHugh, the officers who worked on the case.

Teacher Carolyn Lord said: "We were told that a lot of burglaries were committed to fund a heroin habit.

"The children have learned about the bad side of drugs.

"They wrote that they were glad the equipment had been found and that the burglars hadn't been able to sell it to buy drugs."

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