PUPILS have been left heartbroken after burglars ransacked their school, stealing Christmas gifts collected for the homeless.

Thieves smashed their way into St Hilda's High School in Burnley and wrecked three rooms and stole 50 gift-wrapped shoe boxes which had been made by the girls to give to the homeless for Christmas.

Year 11 pupil Laura Watson asked her school friends to collect goods after she saw an item on Granada Tonight asking for the boxes to be given to the Salvation Army.

In just two days 50 decorated boxes had been brought into school filled with small money bags, toiletries, photographs of the girls. Some of the pupils had put in watches, scarfs and gloves.

This morning teachers had to tell Laura all the hard-work had been wrecked by thieves. Caretaker Bobbie Hawke had his office ransacked and his tools and personal posessions stolen. The thieves kicked in a door to the prayer room where the gifts were, they smashed the door of the head of year 11's office and ransacked it and went into the music room.

Head teacher Miss Bernadette Bleasdale said: "They are just sick. The damage is horrendous and the pupils are upset at what has happened."

The boxes were torn open and found empty in the school yard.

Police estimate about £1,000 worth of property was taken.

The school always collects food parcels for the elderly at Christmas, but Laura's campaign was in addition to normal school activities.

Laura said: "I am shocked and upset at what they have done."

The school appealed for anyone who might know who carried out the burglary to contact the police on 01282 425001.

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