Hockey team girls lost valuable A-level coursework when thieves broke into their school minibus.

The work was left in their school bags, along with other personal items such as mobile phones, during a match between teams from Bartholomew School at Eynsham and Burford Community College yesterday afternoon.

They were playing on the astroturf pitch at Carterton Community College, in Upavon Way, between 3.30pm and 5.30pm.

Bartholomew School head Andrew Hamilton said today: “It is a very distressing situation for them, no one wants to lose the work they have done.

“Some of it was coursework notes and there were books as well. We will ensure they get them replaced.

“Obviously, the thieves were not after these, so there is a chance that if the bags have been dumped and are found, we will get them back.”

The incident has been reported to police.