Staff at a village school are furious after a series of thefts have left classrooms without heating.

Nonington Primary School's acting head teacher Tobin Wallace-Sims has been shocked by the crimes and forced to hire expensive heaters to keep the staff and 67 pupils warm.

He said: "I am deeply saddened that people are prepared to steal from a school and, in so doing, put in jeopardy the safety of children.

"They also force us to divert funds that should be used to make our pupils' education a rich and varied experience."

The succession of thefts started at the Church Street school sometime during the summer holidays when oil was stolen from the tank. New supplies then went missing too.

Mr Wallace-Sims said: "We received a new tank, only to soon discover that the thieves had tampered with it and tried to force its lid off.

"Thankfully the school was alerted by a neighbour that youths on motor bikes carrying oil drums had got onto the school site."

The intruders left empty handed on that visit, but the next day Nonington school secretary Heather Hawkes discovered the lid had been dislodged.

Mr Wallace-Sims said: "I came over in the evening and waited until it was dark to see if they came back, but nothing happened.

"Later that night they obviously came back, forced the door of the boiler room and cut the inlet pipe and drained away all the fuel.

"This was £750 worth, 1,250 litres, so they must have come prepared with containers to take it all away.

"The police think that whoever took the oil knew what they were doing. We have now lost £1,500 worth of fuel and until the area is made secure we cannot use the oil-fired heating.

"This means that we have had to hire electric heaters which cost a great deal to use."

Anyone with information about the fuel thefts from Nonington Primary School is asked to contact PC Dave Keningale on 07980 683818.

Alternatively callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.