by Thom Morris

Pupils at a primary school in Ashford are lamenting the loss of their building blocks after thieves made off with them in a wheelbarrow and ripped up flowers.

A locked container in Beaver Green school’s playground was broken into sometime between September 17 and 19.

The school’s site manager Barbara York said: “The blocks were donated to us for the reception class to use. I think there are about 15 to 20 of them missing.

"I’m surprised they managed to carry them. They’re quite heavy and our perimeter fences are quite a way to walk.”

The school’s flowers planted by pupils in the reception class were also ripped out during the theft.

Worth about £500, police are now appealing for witnesses to try and track the play equipment down.

Police spokesman Rosy Alexander said: “The large amount of wooden building bricks are believed to have been transported from the site in a wheelbarrow and it is likely that this would have required several journeys.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01303 289180. Calls can also be made to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.