Welford and Wickham Primary School has minibus vandalised in 'bizarre' fashion

A village primary school has had its minibus vandalised, with the culprits only taking odd parts of the vehicle.

Staff from Welford and Wickham Primary School discovered on the morning of Monday, May 16, that their minibus had had a wheel, a wing mirror and a windscreen wiper stolen over the weekend.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the vehicle was collected to be repaired and Welford and Wickham has managed to borrow other minibuses to continue providing transport for breakfast clubs and after-school runs.

Acting executive headteacher Lynne Valentine said the incident was, “very bizarre”.

She also said of the discovery on Monday morning: “Someone could have easily just jumped in the driver’s side and tried to drive off.”

The white Ford minibus was discovered jacked up on a small piece of wood which allowed whoever was responsible to remove the entire left-side rear double wheel.

The driver-side wing mirror and one of the vehicle’s windscreen wipers were also crudely removed. It is believed that the offence occurred on Sunday, May 15, the day before its discovery.

Mrs Valentine said: "Who wants a wheel and a windscreen wiper and a wing mirror?”

The Friends of Welford and Wickham Primary School Facebook page posted about the incident stating: “To say we are all saddened and disappointed is an understatement... to target a small village primary school is beyond comprehension and has left pupils and staff incredibly upset.”

Fortunately, the school was able to work around the schedule of the nearby Shefford Church of England Federated Primary School located in Great Shefford, which kindly lent its minibus to the school last week.

This week, the school has been able to borrow a minibus from the Scouts which it is proudly a part of. The Scout programme has a central role within Welford and Wickham’s enrichment curriculum.

Welford and Wickham uses its minibus to provide school runs for Boxford VC Primary School, as well as transport its own students to various after-school clubs.

Police have filed the investigation pending further information coming to light. Anyone with information should contact Thames Valley Police on 101, or make a report online, and quote reference number 43220211240.