AN OUTRAGED community is rallying round a school for children with special needs after it lost 12 of its beloved pet chickens when it was targeted by vandals.

Staff, parents and children at Cedar Hall School, which teaches youngsters with learning difficulties, were devastated when some of their chickens were killed after being set loose by intruders over the weekend.

A piece of play equipment, a 10ft long wooden pole and a shed were also damaged during another incident at the Thundersley school days before.

But kind-hearted strangers have now raised more than £4,800 for the school on an online fundraising page - which was initially set up to raise £500.

Hussein Hassan, the school’s site manager, said: “I think it’s quite amazing how everyone has got together to support the school, it’s really pleasing.

“The person who set up the page, David Sargant, said he was going to do it and would start at £500 and it’s well over that now. I’m so pleased.

“It will all go to improving the school’s security, everyone is so generous.”

But offers of help have also included offers to donate a new CCTV system, from Jimmy and Mel Burns, from Bee Wise Security in Southend, and Stuart Leslie, from Safe Fire Protection Ltd.

Mrs Burns said: “We also try to help out where we can. The school’s funding needs to go towards more important things, to the children who need it; they don’t need this additional cost.”

In addition, mum-of-two Lucy Rice, of Atherstone Road, in Canvey, has also contacted the school to offer six ducks. She said: “We just wanted to help, it’s atrocious that somebody has done this to a school. I just really hope they can recover from this.”

As offers continue to pour in to help the school, grateful headteacher Nick Maxwell said: “This is so heart-warming, it’s a silver lining to a very dark cloud.”

Essex Police are investigating the break-ins, which happened between 3.30pm on August 17 and 9am on August 18, and on Saturday. Call Essex Police on 101. Donate at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cedar-hall-school-essex