Staff at a village primary school have rallied round after vandals covered their building with offensive words and images.

The staff at Rollesby Primary and Nursery School, near Great Yarmouth, have been forced to remove the abusive graffiti, which covers most of its exterior.

It is believed the vandalism happened between Saturday night and Sunday morning and caused the closure of the school yesterday while the clean-up operation was carried out by about 25 members of staff.

Parents were told on Sunday that the school would be closed.

Headteacher Louise Hinton, who took part in the clean-up operation yesterday, said police had advised her to close the school so the 143 youngsters who go there, including two-year-olds, would not have to see the offensive words and images.

She said: “There were offensive messages and lewd drawings. Virtually the whole exterior of the school was covered.

“It is absolutely sickening.

“Who would do such a thing to a little village school like us?

“We have had a lot of messages of support from parents.

All the staff are here now cleaning up and we may call in maintenance contractors as well.

“How could anyone deface a school with such disgusting images and words, we have two-year-olds here and they could have seen them.”

MORE; school hit by vandalism

Norfolk police are investigating the vandalism and the school was due to re-open today.

Mrs Hinton said the words and images were drawn and written with chalk.

A spokeswoman for Norfolk police said: “Suspects have defaced some of the walls and external buildings with foul and abusive drawings and words.”

The suspects had also broken the lock on a rear door at the school which is on Main Road in Rollesby and was named sporting primary school of the year at the Great Yarmouth Sports Awards in October.

A message on Norfolk County Council’s website described the incident as a “break in and serious vandalism”.

Ofsted have described the school as having a caring and happy environment that ensures that the pupils develop good personal and social skills.

Anyone with information on the vandalism at Rollesby Primary and Nursery School should contact Norfolk police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.