A Liverpool mum is raising money for a special needs school after "horrible" thieves stole the school’s gardening equipment.
The break-in at Bluebell Park School in Kirkby happened last week when thieves slashed a polytunnel so that they could help themselves to garden tools.
Kate Griffiths, 28, from Kirkby whose six-year-old daughter is a pupil at the school, told the ECHO she was so upset at hearing about the theft.
She said: "My little girl, Lily-Rose, goes there. She has autism and global developmental delay.
"She’s non-verbal so she doesn’t speak at all but since she’s been there she’s started doing bits of signing and doing nursery rhymes with her hands.
"Before that, we never get any communication like that off her but now she listens and she understands things, and she understands her name.
"A lot more is coming out of her now, she’s so intelligent and she shows her emotions.
"When I found out about the break-in on Saturday I was crying and so upset.
"I just thought I’m going to set up a fundraiser but I didn’t expect it to get as far as it has.
The gofundme page Kate set up on Sunday has smashed the original £250 target and currently stands at over £700.
She said: "I was nervous doing it because I thought nobody will donate with what’s going on but I’m so glad I did now.
"I think it’s because it’s a special needs school, it’s so horrible.
"It’s not as if they couldn’t tell it’s a special needs school because they can see it's wheelchair accessible."
Bluebell Park school provides early years, primary, secondary and post 16 arrangements for students with severe and complex learning needs.
The mission statement on the school website states: "Learn about our world, care for others and celebrate achievement" with the aim of providing "functional skills" so that its pupils become as independent as possible.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a break-in was reported by Bluebell Park School on Thursday last week and CCTV enquiries are ongoing.
They say "entry was forced to a locked container" and several items were taken including "garden tools, a lawnmower, strimmer and hedge cutters".
Knowsley community policing inspector Peter Rexwinkel said: "The last thing one of our schools needs at the moment is the further inconvenience and stress of theft.
"Our communities are coming together to help in these difficult times so it is beyond belief that someone would stoop so low as to deprive one of our schools of vital equipment.
"If you heard, saw or captured anything suspicious last Wednesday night near to the school, have had such items offered to you or seen them for sale, do the right thing and help us to return them as soon as possible, and we'll put those responsible before the courts."
You can pass information via @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, with reference 20000183252.
