IT provided a peaceful haven for children at a Southampton School.

However, pupils and staff at Swaythling Primary School have been left devastated by the mess vandals had made of their garden - fondly named The Enchanted Forest.

Staff at the school were only just recovering from a break-in on Wednesday in which thieves stole more than £3,000 worth of equipment, including a camcorder and laptop computer.

When they arrived on Monday morning they found sculptures kicked down, bird tables dumped in a pond and environmental areas where children work and play ruined.

The mindless attack is thought to have happened on Saturday night, when a window at the school was also smashed.

The £9,000 lottery-funded gardens were created on waste ground in 2004 after the school joined forces with students from the University of Southampton's volunteer department.

Pupils themselves have been responsible for the area's upkeep - weeding and painting the brightly-coloured signboards and seats.

Head teacher Dennis Martin said: "Anything like this really upsets you. For the children the Enchanted Forest is a nice quiet area where they can spend time.

"The parents were furious when they arrived this morning, they were absolutely livid. This is a lot more personal to the children than the break-in.

"When I arrived this morning I was extremely angry. Now I am just sad to think that people get fun out of this. What benefit it is to them I do not know."