SICKENED community leaders have condemned burglars who smashed their way into a Keighley primary school and caused hundreds of pounds’ damage.

The raiders broke into the building through the roof, leaving a trail of destruction.

An area of ceiling was wrecked, walls and fittings damaged, and work created by pupils destroyed.

The culprits fled, taking a laptop computer, when an alarm sounded.

It was the second incident within two months at Keighley St Andrew’s CE Primary School.

In April, thugs hurled huge chunks of stone at the Lustre Street premises and kicked doors.

“Any burglary is a despicable crime but to target a place of learning for young children is absolutely sickening,” said district councillor Zafar Ali, whose Keighley Central ward includes the site.

Cllr Khadim Hussain, who also represents Keighley Central, condemned the thieves as “evil-minded”.

“The impact of this is not just immediate – it will starve the school of funds which should be spent elsewhere and long-term will affect the young children,” he said.

The school’s business manager, Gill Higham, said there was a lot of damage to walls and the ceiling, and wiring had been brought down. “It was a mess,” she said.

CCTV captured images of three people on the school site at the time of the incident, at around 12.50am on Friday.

Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to contact Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, quoting crime reference 13170249252.