CRUEL firebugs deliberately set a wooden hut alight over the weekend in the latest in a series of mindless attacks on children’s play equipment at a Clydebank school.

Vandals have now struck more than 10 times at Our Lady of Loretto Primary and its early learning and childcare centre (ELCC) in the last six months.

The wooden hut on the grounds of the Dalmuir school was set on fire at around 2pm on Sunday, June 5.

Clydebank Post:

Pupils and children at the school are said to be saddened and upset yet again following this latest act of vandalism.

Bernadette Clark was passing on her bike when she spotted the blaze.

She said: “I had read that the school had been targeted before by vandals, it’s a shame.”

Clydebank Post:

West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) confirmed it was working with Police Scotland to make the school grounds more secure and to deter any further incidents.

A WDC spokesperson said: “The pupils and children at Our Lady of Loretto Primary School and ELCC are saddened and upset yet again following another act of mindless vandalism to the outdoor area at their school.

“During this latest break-in, wooden benches were set on fire, and items of the children’s outdoor classroom resources and toys were also deliberately damaged.

“The council is working with Police Scotland to make the school grounds more secure and deter any further instances of antisocial behaviour.

“This ongoing deliberate vandalism has caused a great deal of distress for both staff and children who value their outdoor area for play and learning.

“For this to be taken away from them by vandals is despicable and we would urge anyone with information to contact Police Scotland.”

A police spokesperson confirmed that the fire is being treated as wilful and that investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances.

Firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze at the property on Beatty Street, extinguishing it around 40 minutes later.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed there were no casualties and that crews left the scene after making it safe.

A SFRS spokesperson said: “We were alerted at around 2.08pm on Sunday, June 5 to reports of a shed on fire within the grounds of Our Lady Loretto Primary School on Dumbarton Road in Clydebank. 

“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene.

“It was one wooden shed alight and this was extinguished.

“There were no casualties and crews left the scene at around 2.44pm.”

Last month, the Post reported the ‘literacy small world’ huts on the grounds of OLLPS were broken into and many of the resources were destroyed by vandals.