CHILDREN at Barrow Hall Primary School in Great Sankey were upset to discover that a pond area which they have spent the past six weeks building had been trashed by vandals over Christmas.

The pupils were all looking forward to filling the pond and putting in the fish when they returned after the holidays.

But they discovered that part of the safety fencing which parent John Hollywood had spent many voluntary hours building had been ripped down and rubbish had been thrown into the pond base.

"The children were sick when they came back to school on Monday," said science teacher Cathy Hughes, who was in charge of the project.

"Parents, teachers and children have spent hours building it all.

"It is not the money, it is all the time that was spent on the project that makes it so upsetting."

The money for the project was raised by the children who each gave a £1 donation and the PTA.

They are now having to rebuild the pond.