A KENDAL headteacher has issued a desperate plea to vandals who have smashed windows, set fire to a classroom and left broken glass strewn across the playground.

Bernadette Calvey, of Vicarage Park C of E School, said children are becoming increasingly upset by incidents which have taken place over the last few weeks - and is now urging the vandals and the arsonists who struck on Sunday to 'stop the damage'.

"We've had a series of incidents where we've had windows smashed and bottles smashed on the playground," she said.

"Now we've had an outdoor classroom set fire to as well.

"It's so disruptive to school and to the children's learning. We'd just like it to stop."

The latest attack took place at around 7.25pmon Sunday, when neighbours spotted flames coming from the grounds and called for emergency services.

Miss Calvey said it appeared a wheelie bin full of newspapers had been dragged across the playground and up to a raised area close to an outdoor classroom.

It was then set on fire, and the blaze quickly spread to the wooden structure, which was being used on a daily basis by younger children.

"Obviously we're all very upset by it," she said.

"The children aren't able to use that area until the damage has been rectified and we're worried about the structure of it given the intensity of the fire.

"It will probably be a few weeks before we can get the damage mended which means it is out of bounds until then.

"The younger children used it every day so it will have a real impact on them."

A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said the fire caused hundreds of pounds of damage - but believe it could have been much worse.

"Fire crews put a blaze out which could have easily spread to the school itself," he said.

The Vicarage Drive school has now passed CCTV footage to police, but anybody with information about the fire is urged to contact PC Karen Withey of Kendal police station on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.