Thieves use cutlery to steal lead from school roof

Cutlery was used to slash the slate roof to steal the lead

Thieves who used cutlery to help them steal lead from a school roof left a £10,000 trail of destruction behind.

They used the tableware to smash up slate so they could get at the lead on the roof of Arnot St Mary's Primary School in Walton, Liverpool.

The city council has now agreed to foot the bill for the damage, which was inflicted just before the beginning of term.

Deputy head teacher Dan Paton said it was "frustrating" that money had to be spent repairing "mindless vandalism" instead of going on things that would benefit the children.

Repairs were being completed on the 139-year-old roof

The thieves struck during work to repair the 139-year-old school, and used the scaffolding to get onto the roof.

Liverpool City Council's Lila Bennett said: "Incidents like this are not victimless.

"The impact on the school staff who have to deal with the damages as well as the children whose learning may be disrupted."

More repair works are set to take place in the spring, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.