A KIDDERMINSTER school community were left devastated after tools valuable to children's education were stolen during a weekend raid.

Staff at Foley Park Community Primary School, on Northumberland Avenue, say that lessons will have to be re-planned for after the holiday following a burglary, where equipment worth around £1,000 was stolen from a shed.

Hatchets, bow saws, hammers, drills, safety knives, nails and more tools that children use to learn about building, gardening and the outdoors were stolen from the school's allotment area sometime between Friday afternoon (October 25, and Sunday, October 27.

Now, community members have started a campaign to raise money to replace the tools in support of the school.

Tania Sinden, who is a leader of the Forest School program, found the shed had been broken into after visiting the allotment to feed chickens that are kept there.

She said: "I was the first person to notice that a burglary had happened. I was in complete shock."

Foley Park headteacher Kathryn Sugars said: "These were not power tools, they were tools the children use for learning.

"The value of these tools to children is huge and the benefits of outdoor learning is massive."

Forest School leader Sarah Hipwell said: "We are going to have to re-plan our lessons and our Forest School sessions over here.

"It won't stop us but it will change what we do sadly."

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) member Micaila Price said: "All parents are so upset and angry with what has happened.

"From the PTA point of view it's quite upsetting because it's a long process to raise money for the tools."

Following the incident, school parent Georgina Johnston started an online fundraiser, which has now received over £300 in donations.

She said: "I'm absolutely heartbroken. This is something that I feel really passionate about.

"I set the page up just to make sure we can get the school some money.

"It's sad that all our previous fundraising efforts were all in vain. Now we have to do it all again."

People can donate to the fundraiser via www.gofundme.com/f/replacing-foley-park-forest-schools-stolen-tools?

Foley's Fish Bar owner Nick Akathiotis has donated £50 in support of the school. He said: "We want to help the school as much as we can. I know how hard it is for schools to get funding."

Sarah Hipwell added: "The support of our Foley Park community has been fantastic and the parents and the surrounding community have been wonderful."

Inspector David King said: "We are investigating a burglary that occurred at the school. I would like to remind people in the area to be vigilant and please be on the lookout.

People can provide information to the police by calling 101, quoting the incident number 541S28.