Around £10,000 of damage was caused to an Oxford school after a section of its ceiling collapsed following a raid by lead thieves.

Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses after lead flashing was stolen from the roof of Windale Primary School in Blackbird Leys causing the ceiling to cave in on Monday.

Inspector Graham Sutherland said it was lucky there was no-one in the building at the time or the police could have been launching a manslaughter investigation.

He said: “Fortunately there were no pupils in this part of the building, or the consequences could have been far worse.

“If anyone was seriously injured or killed by the ceiling collapsing a manslaughter investigation could have been launched – a high price to pay for a quantity of lead.”

Anyone with information on people acting suspiciously around the school, particularly on the roof, should call police on 08458 505505, or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111.