A FENCE was ripped down at Penketh Primary School by yobs on a boozy night out.

They pulled down £500 worth of wooden fencing alongside the yard.

The play area outside the gym was left covered in broken bottles, cans and litter.

The school caretaker is working hard to repair the damage.

"All the money lost comes from the school's budget which is ultimately taken away from the children at the school," said head teacher Mark Hilton.

"And that's extremely frustrating."

The vandals must have been prepared when they came to the school in Coniston Avenue, last Friday night.

They used some kind of tool to remove bolts from the fence before pushing it down.

Vandals have caused trouble in the past - the boiler room window was bricked up because it was damaged so often - but the school had enjoyed a relatively trouble-free summer.

It is understood a gang of Penketh youths who have been moved around before by police have taken to hanging around the school.

Anyone with information about the incident can leave a message on 0845 458 6385, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.