STAFF have spoken of their shock after a special needs school was burgled three times over the past two months.

Mill Green Special School, on Lansbury Avenue, Parr has been broken into on three separate occasions, with play and horticultural equipment being stolen.

Police were first called to the school in June after thieves broke into a shed and took two remote control trucks and play tunnels.

A further burglary happened between Friday, July 10 and Monday, 13 when a lawnmower, leaf blower and a strimmer were stolen from another shed.

The lawnmower and strimmer were later recovered from wasteland close to the school but the leaf blower is still missing.

And a third break-in took place on the following Tuesday (July 14) but nothing was taken.

The burglaries have come as a big blow to the school which relocated to its current premises from Newton-le-Willows last September.

"It's been a shock to us and we haven't been able to use the equipment they've taken," said Lauren Hull, the school's business manager.

"The children have not been able to use the trucks over the summer. We've not been able to use the strimmer or the lawnmower while it's been nice weather.

"We have had to take everything out of the sheds so we can't use them.

"I'm waiting for a final cost to come in. We are trying to keep everything as nice as we can but money has got to be spent on this rather than on the children.

"There is damage to the outdoor classroom and to the doors on the sheds."

Inspector Elaine Collins of Merseyside Police said: "To burgle anyone is despicable but to steal from a school is even more so as they are there to help people.

"My officers have carried out extensive checks in the area to see if anyone was seen acting suspiciously around the times of these burglaries. Everything that can be done is being done but I would also call on the community to help us here.

"If anyone is offered any of these items for sale in suspicious circumstances, please don't buy it as you will be potentially fuelling burglary and theft in your area. Instead, tell us who it was and where it happened and we will take action."

Contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.