CALLOUS thieves haven stolen the wheels from a school minibus in Worcestershire.

The heartless act has left St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School in Stourport facing a repair bill of thousands of pounds while pupils may miss out on trips and sports fixtures.

Offenders cut holes in perimeter and security fencing to access the minibus and their efforts to remove the wheels damaged both the vehicle’s bodywork and sub-frame.

Mrs Susan Helps, head teacher at the school, said: “The children have been really upset to find that over the weekend their minibus has been damaged and the wheels stolen.

“They cannot believe that someone would be so destructive, causing damage to their minibus.

“If anyone knows anything about this incident please inform the police.”

This is the second time in five years that thieves have stolen from the school’s minibus.

Coaches and taxis are being used as a temporary measure while the school explores options for mending the minibus, which may even be beyond economical repair.

Booking extra transport is proving particularly expensive as the school uses the minibus to deliver school meals to the pupils of St Wulstan’s Catholic and Lickhill Primary Schools every day.

Kate Ready, the school’s business manager, confirmed the final costs for fixing the minibus and broken fences and paying for alternative transport would run into a four-figure sum.

She added: “The theft has been so awful.

“This will cost the school thousands of pounds and the money will have to come directly from the school’s budget.”

The white Ford Transit minibus was parked at the rear of the school when the thieves pounced sometime between 6pm on Friday, November 21, and 5pm on Sunday, November 23.

Anyone with information should call officers on 101 quoting incident reference number 510S231114.