Former pupil rallies community campaign for Rushden school after thieves wreck roof

Members of the community have rallied round to help a Rushden infant school after a gang's cruel actions left a repair bill of thousands of pounds.

As reported by this newspaper Tennyson Road Infant School roof was targeted by lead thieves, resulting in thawing snow and heavy rain to leak through the roof and ceiling. It caused water to pour onto valuable electrical equipment - the full extent of the damage was not spotted until teachers and pupils returned after a 'snow day'.

In response to the news, former pupil and staff member Laura Joyce set up an online donations page to help foot the bill and support the community that is close to her and her family's heart.

Her gran Margaret Binder works as a dinner lady and her aunt Charlotte Binder is higher level teaching assistant.

Laura said: "Tennyson Road was the infant school I attended as a child. I then went on to work there for nine years. Some of my family members currently work there. They are only a small infant school and they do not have a bottomless pot of money to keep repairing reoccurring vandalism.

"It is absolutely awful. This is the third bout of vandalism. We had the sensory garden vandalised a few years ago. We don't know why they do it."

On Saturday, January 23, between 10.40pm and 11pm, two people were seen on CCTV to scale the fence between the school and the neighbouring Pemberton Centre.

They then removed a padlock from one of the gates and gained access to the roof where they stripped the lead flashing - removing a number of tiles in the process.

The school has appealed for help from residents in the area to check their doorbell cameras and CCTV.

The school believes that the two people on the roof may have had more than one other accomplice to help move the lead through the fence, walking with it down an alley towards Birchall Road - the gang were in or near to the alley at roughly 11pm.

The Go Fund Me page has already raised more than £1,200 boosted by a £500 donation from Rushden-based Northampton Heating Services Ltd.

Laura added: "I would really love to try and raise some money to help them with their repairs.

"Any small donation will be greatly appreciated. I really want to help and if there is anyone out there who can help they can get in touch with me."

Any offers of help can be made to Laura by emailing her [email protected] or to donate to Tennyson Road Infant School's roof repairs click here for the Go Fund Me page.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 and quote CR21000056772.