Local Conservatives have expressed anger at the news that a minibus belonging to St Benet’s RC primary school was stolen on Tuesday 21st July.

The vehicle, registration BF64 TFN, was paid for by the fundraising efforts of staff members, parents and pupils of the school. It has been a lifeline to the school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This follows a similar incident at St Aidan’s Academy which was condemned by Cllr Peter Wood earlier this week.

The St Peter’s Conservatives team has contacted the Head of the school and offered financial support towards the cost of replacing the stolen school bus.

Councillor Joshua McKeith, Shadow Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills and a St Peter’s Ward councillor, said:

“It is very sad that when the country is seeing acts of kindness and community support as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, we also see such horrific acts of selfishness.”

Sam Johnston, a local campaigner who lives in the ward, said:

“It is really upsetting to see things like this happening in our area, especially when we’ve seen so much kindness and unity during this pandemic.

“The school community worked incredibly hard to get this minibus for the benefit of their pupils, which makes this theft even more abhorrent.”

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact the police on 101, citing log number 220720203.