Upset youngsters at Half Acres Junior and Infant School say callous troublemakers have smashed up their playground pavilion, tried to set fire to it and scrawled graffiti around the building.

Ten-year-old Matthew Clegg, chairman of the Temple Street school’s council, contacted the Express this week to try to shame the vandals into stopping.

He said: “People have damaged the pavilion and drawn things everywhere. They’ve been drinking and taking drugs.

“It makes us frustrated as our school has spent a lot of money on improving things.

“It’s like they think it only costs a penny and we can just buy another but we can’t.”

Trouble started at the school when its new £4,000 pavilion was unveiled last July.

Pupils are now worried that efforts to buy a new fitness trail will be wasted if it is also damaged.

Matthew added: “We want everyone to be fit by getting more exercise. But if the trail is damaged we can’t.

“I want to say to the vandals, do you realise how much effort has gone into getting these things for our school?

“They’re ruining things – we want it to stop.”

Deputy headteacher Joan Turton added: “These vandals should be ashamed. We’re at a loss and I hope they listen to the children.

“We’ve told the police and given out leaflets asking people to report anything they see, and they are helping us.

“But the school council is trying to raise money for a fitness trail and are really worried it will just be damaged.”