A HEADTEACHER has spoken of the support received from the community since burglars ransacked a school, robbing thousands of pounds worth of equipment.

In the early hours of September 9, three burglars broke in to the White Bridge Junior School and Infants School in Greensted Road, Loughton.

CCTV footage shows that they spent almost two hours in the school, stealing seven laptops as well as projectors which cost almost £8,000 in total.

The burglars also caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, smashing fences, doors and windows.

Since then the response from the school community has been overwhelming, with parents volunteering time to help clean up the damage and some even offering money help replace the equipment stolen.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing visited the White Bridge last Friday to offer her support to the school.

The headteacher, Mrs Katherine Ward, said: “The parents were phenomenal, many of them came in the next day to help clear up.

“We had a lot of support from people who came to say how sorry they were about what had happened.

“It has made me very upset. We have had to spend money on these repairs that we would have been able to spend on the children. They have also taken the time of myself and my staff away from the children.”

Eleanor Laing MP said: “It is totally despicable that people could break into the school and steal.

“I will happily chase up the insurance company if necessary and do anything else that I can to help the school get itself back to normal following the break-in.”

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