A COMMUNITY has come together once again to support a school that has been struck by vandals.

Golftyn Primary's forest school suffered 100 per cent fire damage during an early morning attack last week.

Jeannette Williams, leader of the forest school, said she has been inundated by messages from people wanting to help rebuild the project.

She said: "I’m overwhelmed with people that do good out of bad things. Everyone is devastated and can’t believe how people can do this sort of thing.

The Leader:

"We do so much for these children to have a good life, we struggle as it is, as every school does but it’s so disheartening. We put so much of our time into it to get knocked back down again but I honestly can’t stress how much the people have come together.

"We will get it up and running again. I’m gutted more than anything and the children will be as well."

The forest school is a wooden gazebo used by the children to learn more about the outdoor environment such as den building, toasting marshmallows and how to light fires safely.

The incident came two weeks after vandals stole pebbles and threw cement around various parts of the school, of which were to be used for a pebble fundraiser.

The Connah’s Quay community came together to replace what was lost so the children could go ahead with the event and raise funds for the building.

Jeannette added: "The children absolutely thrive on it. They want to be out there and get away from what they call school work, but they are actually still learning because everything is incorporated."

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 12.49am on Thursday, November 1 to reports of a fire. One pump from Deeside attended and used one hose reel jet to tackle the blaze. It is believed to have been deliberate ignition.

Cllr Paul Shotton for Golftyn ward said: "I have been down and seen the destructive act of these mindless morons at Golftyn School and somebody will know who did this and needs to come forward.

"Residents need to be vigilant and report suspicious activity. As a member of the fire authority, I will be taking this very seriously."

A community clean up will be taking place at 10am on Saturday with the Connah's Quay Scouts, 'Loose Ladies' and some parents. Anyone wishing to help can do so.

Sam Jones from SDJ Construction has provided a skip and will be dismantling the burnt out classroom, and Wates Residential has agreed to supply the materials for the new building. Refreshments will also be available for those who attend.

Cllr Bernie Attridge told the Leader: "I was pleased that Mick Cunningham from Wates Residential agreed to help out at the school.

"It's great to see the Connah's Quay community once again coming together to help the school, to give them back something the children use a lot.

"I'm pleased that I could help. It's lovely to see and hopefully in the next few weeks we will be able to have the area back so the kids can use it."

A spokesman for North Wales Police confirmed the arson was reported at 1.15am and anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting ref W155851.