Thieves have stolen £3,000 worth of stone from the walls surrounding the grounds of Haworth Primary School Head teacher Janet Parkinson said pupils were “incensed” at the criminals and they have expressed their disgust by writing and sending nearly 30 letters to the Keighley News.

She said the thieves first struck on November 10 when they took six large coping stones. Six days later they returned and took 23 stones.

They targeted the school’s boundary wall, as well as walls running alongside the steps leading down to the playground.

Mrs Parkinson said: “This is an historic village and these people are spoiling it for everyone.”

She said the stones had been wrenched loose despite being cemented in place.

She said the thieves must have had a vehicle to be able to transport the heavy, valuable material from the scene.

She said the total cost of repairs would come to £3,000 and added she was aware of other recent instances of stone being stolen elsewhere in the village.

Among the pupils who registered their anger in letters was James Thompson, who wrote: “I think children are now ashamed to come to school and all of us are appalled at the sight of our once beautiful school.

“I think the person who did this should own up.” Lewis Callaghan wrote: “I think the person that has done this should be brought to justice. The school has just won an award for helping the community and this is how we are rewarded.”

Joe Brammah wrote: “I am tremendously disgusted that people from our community could do this. We haven’t done anything to them.”

Sgt Mark Wheeler, of the Bingley and Worth Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, reported the school thefts to members of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council on Monday evening.