ONCE again you are left scratching your head over the sheer mindlessness of vandals who attacked a pre-school.

Yesterday, the children at Shepherds Hill Pre-school, Blackbird Leys, arrived back from their half-term break to find a scene of destruction in the play garden.

There was the familiar tale of toys smashed, bins upturned and guttering pulled down, along with the garden wrecked.

But those who undertook this spree really put effort into it, writing obscenities on desks as well.

It is pointless trying to understand the mentality of the people who did this. They are no doubt young themselves and decided it would be a good way to fill a bit of time during their own half-term break.

It now means the pre-school will have to raise more money to put right the damage and a Christmas trip may be called off.

The worrying thing is the message it gives the children.

If someone was prepared to do this to their hard work, might not some of them take the same attitude in 10 years’ time when they are similarly bored during a school break?

We certainly hope this is not the lesson they take away this autumn.