A HEADTEACHER has condemned thieves who broke into a school and stole computers worth about £17,000.

Lynne Ackland, headteacher of Sedgefield Community College, said the laptops were a important for pupils.

Students preparing to sit GCSE exams will be devastated to learn the laptops will not be there to help revision, she said.

Although pupils are away for half term, staff are on site during the day.

The caretaker discovered yesterday morning that a locked classroom cupboard had been broken into and 17 laptops and power packs were missing.

Ms Ackland said: "I'm really angry and disappointed for the pupils.

"Schools need laptop computers - they can be moved around the building for use in any department and pupils use them to prepare work.

"They are especially valuable to pupils who use them to revise and visit specialist revision websites between lessons or exams.

"This was a really selfish, thoughtless act.

"For the sake of selling a few stolen laptops in the pub, these thieves have put extra stress on children facing exams."

The computers - 16 Toshiba Satellite Pro L20s and one Lenovo C100 - were marked with serial numbers which have been given to the police.

Ms Ackland said replacing the computers will cost the school at least £1,000 in insurance excess.

Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Jason Quye on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.