Stakeford First School pupils devastated as trip cash stolen

Mar 4 2010 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

SCHOOL children who spent months raising money to fund their class trip have been left devastated after thieves swiped the entire collection.

Enterprising youngsters at Stakeford First School did odd jobs, washed cars, and sold hand-made Christmas cards to make more than £700 to help cover costs of their annual visit to the Robinwood Activity Centre, in Alston.

But thieves struck when the school was closed for the night, last week, and took every penny of the children’s hard-earned cash.

And although a teenager has been arrested in connection with the break-in, the youngsters are now facing a race against time to replace the money they have lost.

Headteacher, Julie Hall, said the theft had left the pupils gutted.

“The pupils had been trying to raise funds to help cover the costs of their trip to Robinwood,” she explained.