A HEAD teacher says she feels sorry for a burglar who stole cash from a Bradford special school during a break-in.

Delius Special School, in Barkerend Road, Bradford Moor, was raided in the early hours, as a suspect broke into its main reception office by using a rock to smash a window.

Police confirmed they were called to the school at just before 2am today after reports of an intruder inside the school building.

The suspect stole a small, unconfirmed amount of cash from the office's petty cash supply, which was also locked away.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed the suspect smashed a window in the school's office to gain entry and left the school, running off in the direction of Killinghall Road. The incident took place between 1.50am and 2am.

The suspect is described as 6ft, of stocky build and was wearing black trousers, black shoes, a green jacket, black balaclava and white gloves.

Police officers continued their investigations at the school today.

But despite being affected by the break-in, staff opened up the school as usual today. The suspect only targeted the office and none of the school's classrooms.

Head teacher Sally Joy said the school opened as usual today and the children were not affected by the incident.

Ms Joy said: "I feel sorry for the people who did this.

"They must feel desperate to do something like this to a school which has some of the most vulnerable children in Bradford.

"I hope they did not get hurt or cut themselves on the glass.

"The children have not been affected at all by it.

"My staff have been upset by it but the school was still open today. We carried on.

"They have caused a lot of damage in the office and have broken a lot of cupboards. They have wrecked a lot of equipment. They threw a great, big rock through the window.

"They did not take anything, only a small bit of our petty cash in the office. They broke through a double lock to get to the cash.

"They have also broken a lot of cupboards to find what they could.

"These people have left a lot of mess behind for my staff to clear up.

"You couldn't move in our office for papers being left on the floor this morning."

Delius Special School has more than 100 students aged between two and 11 with a wide range of needs, including complex medical, physical, emotional and learning difficulties and disabilities.

The school opened its doors in April 2010, with pupils coming from five other different special schools to the newly-opened site.

Delius Special School was also broken into in June 2012, when specialist bikes for disabled children worth thousands of pounds were stolen.

Bikes worth around £4,000 were taken during the first of two break-ins at the school within a week.

Anyone with any further information is asked to call the police on 101, to PC2861 Mathers, quoting crime reference number 13160175756 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.