Children at a primary school have been left devastated after vandals destroyed the pond which they have been creating all term.

The year four children at Windhill Church of England School had been hoping to proudly unveil their new wildlife pond yesterday but vandals got there first.

Lisa Matthews, the year four teacher at the school, said: "The caretaker found it on Monday morning. They must have climbed over a wall to get into the school.

"They threw the large stones around the pond into the water, ripping the lining and all the water has drained away."

The children had designed and created the pond themselves and had been working on the project since Easter.

Year four pupil Adam Ogden said: "We spent hours digging it up. First we picked up all the rubbish and dead leaves, so we can grow plants.

"We are making our pond as part of our caring for the environment project. We don't have any fish yet so if there are any willing garden centres please contact us."

Now they are hoping somebody will help them start their project all over again.

Miss Matthews added: "We were devastated when we saw the damage. We have put in so much hard work and so much effort. We are absolutely gutted, really.

''They have damaged the pond before we even had chance to fill it."

The school had spent around £80 for the pond liner and is now considering spending even more to buy a hard plastic pond liner to try to avoid the same thing happening in the new pond.

Anyone who could offer a donation or help to recreate the pond can call the school on Bradford (01274) 410349.