YOUNGSTERS at a special school were heartbroken when “mindless” vandals sawed off a unique owl ornament.
Pupils of Ysgol Tir Morfa in Rhyl returned from their school holidays to find that a specially commissioned seat, created by a chainsaw carver, had been damaged and the distinctive owl removed.
Headteacher Carol Evans blasted the thieves, who must have taken the statue between December 16 and January 2.
She said: “Having worked hard to secure local funding for specialist equipment, we are left puzzled and extremely upset that somebody has stolen our beautiful wooden hand carved owl, which stood on a five foot post above a hand carved seat for pupils.
“It was a focal point of the garden; we are now left with a stump. Our pupils and staff are left extremely upset by such a mindless act of theft.”
Nicola Newell, spokeswoman for the school, which caters for those with special needs, said the youngsters were left bereft by the attack on the seat.
She said: “It was only made last year, and a lot of them helped, and they all watched the chainsaw carver. It was part of an interactive garden, a sensory garden for children who have special needs to enable them to work outside.”
Although the tree trunk used to create the seat was donated, the cost of hiring the woodcraftsman was £400, which means the school is unlikely to afford a new carving.
She said: “Someone came along and tried to saw the big seat, and just took the owl. We haven’t seen the owl since.
“The main thing is the effect it’s had on the kids. We have no funds to replace it. It was done by grant, so at the moment we don’t have the budget.”
Youngsters at the school said how upset they were by the theft.
Twins, Connor and Kyle Street, aged seven, said: “The people who took the owl from our school are bad. It has made us feel very sad.”