THIEVES stole £7,000 of projector equipment from a Newport infants school blighted by vandalism and break-ins.

Windows at St Julian's Infants School were forced open during the weekend and thieves ripped seven projectors worth a total of £7,000 from the walls of seven classrooms.

The school's caretaker discovered the break-in when he arrived at around 7am and immediately alerted police.

Pupils arrived as usual yesterday morning, but many were not allowed into their classrooms and had to wait in the school hall while teachers cleared the debris.

PC Andy Lewis from Maindee police station said officers were investigating, and would be trawling the school's CCTV footage for evidence.

He added: "There have been a lot of incidents of damage at the school in the recent past."

On December 18, a number of windows were smashed by vandals, at the end of November hanging baskets outside the school were torn down and in October there was a break-in at the school's nursery.

PC Lewis said: "Obviously someone is going to try and sell these stolen projectors on.

"If anyone has any information, I would ask them to contact Maindee police station on 01633 838111."

Parents at the school were also distressed about the news and furious at the culprits.

Susan Evans, whose twin sons are in the school's reception class, said the teachers had worked hard to clear up the mess, while many of the pupils waited in the school hall.

"It's not fair on the children, it's their education," she said.

"It's becoming a regular incident."

Brian Jenkins, whose granddaughter Zoe is a pupil at the school, was also furious at those responsible.

"They are parasites. To go to a little school like that and wreck it for the children.

"It's terrible."