POLICE have launched an investigation after vandals ransacked a Peebles primary school - just days before pupils were due to return from the summer holidays.

Parents of Halyrude Primary School were horrified after discovering the destruction caused by thugs at the weekend.

Vandals undermined months of hard work by fundraisers and volunteers by destroying the polytunnel as well as the plants inside.

Not content with ripping apart the tunnel, they also smashed a window in the school building and pushed over all the new picnic benches.

The culprits also appear to have tried to force entry to a locked shed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are investigating following a report of vandalism to a primary School in Peebles.

"The incident happened sometime overnight between Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18, and resulted in a window being broken and a vegetable patch being disturbed.

"Inquiries to identify those responsible are ongoing."

The school purchased the new greenhouse structure after landing a windfall from the Tesco Bags of Help earlier this year.

The project was made possible with help from members of the Peebles CAN team and parent volunteers.

And green-fingered pupils were hoping to harvest ingredients for lunches, but vandals have destroyed those plans.

Locals took to the Peeblesshire Community Vandalism page to voice their disgust and dismay, with offers to help to clean up the destruction pouring in from residents.

Parents said there was a large amount of broken glass within the grounds, and there are reports of trails of blood on the ground.

One local said it was very “brazen” of the louts to carry out these attacks at the school considering it is situated next door to the local police station.

One parent added: “This is sickening. How can anyone think it is okay to do this?

"Someone knows who is responsible for this. Do the right thing and call it in to the police.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101.