VANDALS who went on a summer holiday wrecking spree have left disappointed children with nowhere to sit in the sun.

Pupils returned to Willington Primary School yesterday to find playground benches and tables had been damaged during the six-week break.

Police have been investigating the attacks, which have been condemned by staff and governors.

Parents and teachers who form the Friends of the School had raised £1,000 to buy the furniture after the school's playing field was enlarged. But yesterday, children had to be barred from the area for safety reasons.

Headteacher Maggie Griffiths said the children were upset. She said: "It is particularly disappointing because a lot of hard work went into raising the money.

"There were two separate incidents during the holidays, one in the first week when a bright red picnic bench was stolen and another destroyed.

"They must have come back later and gone for another group of furniture at the back of the school, where they destroyed one bench and damaged the other.

"The children are upset because they had really enjoyed having somewhere to sit."

Governors chairman Brian Myers said: "This was mindless vandalism. A huge amount of effort went into getting these tables and benches for the school and now there is nothing left to show for it."

Anyone with information about the damage is asked to telephone Crook police station on (01388) 762011.