THIEVES left children and staff at a Padiham primary school devastated after breaking in and stealing thousands of pounds of computer equipment.

The trio of burglars, who posed as footballers having a kick-about on the school fields before breaking in to St Leonard's Primary School, made off with 23 laptop computers, as well as other hardware.

The theft happened on Saturday afternoon at about 3.30pm and police are now hunting the gang, who were caught on CCTV making off with the haul in a blue car.

Detectives are linking the theft to a later attempted break-in at Park Hill Convent School, Padiham Road, Burnley, where a blue car was also spotted.

Julie Bradley, headteacher at St Leonard's, said: "The thieves broke into the computer suite and into the safe where the lap-tops were being kept. They took 23 machines, which had all been fitted with network cards, and a digital camera.

"This has left everyone at the school sickened, especially the Year 6 pupils who were due to use the computers for a project before they leave. They won't be able to do that now.

"So much time and effort has gone in to making these computers ready to use and that has all been wasted and will have to be done again. It's devastating."

Det Insp Dave Croll, of Burnley police, said: "All three men wearing dark, casual clothing and seen driving off in a blue vehicle.They tried to disguise what they were doing by carrying a football."

Call police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.