Staff and parents at a Sunderland school have been left devastated after a minibus which they raised £9,000 to buy for was stolen.
St Benet’s Roman Catholic Primary School, in Fulwell, bought the 14-seater minibus in March after the school’s parent teacher association (PTA) spent months raising the money.
But it is believed shortly after 5pm on Tuesday that the vehicle was stolen from the school premises.
Headteacher Ann Blakey has since appealed for any information to help locate the van and said she was shocked that someone could "steal from children."
She said: "We're devastated. With lockdown, the children only used it about twice.
"We think from CCTV it was stolen about 5.20pm in broad daylight.
"I just can't believe someone has done this. We have had different events to raise money for it and the PTA, the staff, and the local community has worked really hard.
"It would have been used for going swimming and the schools in a beautiful location with the beach and we would have been able to go there safe and sound in this bus. It just made places more accessible to us.
"I don't think people think about the consequences.
"They are stealing from children."
The school posted an appeal on social media to help find the bus- and the local community responded in shock and horror.
Ann said: "Everybody in Sunderland and beyond has been really supportive. Families, the local community, local councillors, everybody has been great.
"I just feel so passionate about it, it's just not fair, these people are taking things away from our children.
"We just really hope we get it back, it means the world to everybody at the school."
The vehicle has been described as silver with the school’s name on the side and the registration number is BF64 TFN.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "On Wednesday (July 22) we received a report a minibus had been stolen from St Benet's primary school in Fulwell.
"It was reported the 14-seater bus had been taken from the secure school park at some point overnight.
"Enquiries to trace the vehicle and those responsible are ongoing.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact us via our website, using the Tell Us Something page quoting log 203 22/07/20."
