A high school is counting the costs of being hit not once, but twice, by vandals since the beginning of the Christmas holidays.

Eastern Daily Press: Damage caused to the window of a kiosk at Flegg High School. Picture: Flegg High SchoolDamage caused to the window of a kiosk at Flegg High School. Picture: Flegg High School (Image: Flegg High School)

Twice in the past month, Flegg High School has been broken into, with a path of destruction left in the wake of both incidents.

The first incident, which happened at some stage between Friday, December 22 and Tuesday, January 2, saw thieves strip lead flashing from the roof of the school, while between 8pm on Friday January 5 and 8.45am the following day, vandals broke into the school’s kiosk.

The second break-in saw windows smashed, doors damaged and finger scanners - which are used while serving lunches at the school - ripped from their wires and stolen.

While the school is assessing the exact costs of the damages caused, it is not sufficient to trigger any insurance policies, but comfortably enough to leave a significant hole in the school’s budget.

Simon Fox, principal of the school in Martham, said: “It is incredibly disappointing to know there are people out there who are willing to do this to a place of such community significance as a school.

“The costs are likely to be in the thousands, which in the financial climate we are in at the moment will have to come from money that otherwise could have been spent on new resources or equipment for our pupils.”

Alongside the financial costs of the damages, the school is also concerned about the impact the break-ins have had on the school’s pupils.

Dr Fox added: “It has certainly unsettled the children as well. They consider the school to be almost their second home - spending as much time here as they do at their houses - so it almost feels like people have invaded their safe haven.

“None of them can understand why somebody would do this and when they ask our members of staff they have no real answer for them.”

Dr Fox also urged the community around the school to remain vigilant to any suspicious activity around the school outside of its usual opening hours and to alert police if they do see anything untoward.

Anybody with information regarding either of the break-ins is encouraged to contact Norfolk Police on 101. The two incidents are not thought to be connected.