A SCHOOL for children with severe learning difficulties is struggling to cope after vandals set fire to two of its minibuses.

Springfield School in Witney has been forced to cancel trips for its pupils after the arson attack last Friday wrecked both vehicles.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze in Cedar Drive by a neighbour at about 10pm.

Last night acting headteacher Emma Lawley said a large wheelie bin had been moved 50 yards into the car park and set on fire between two of its fleet of five buses.

The backs of both the mini-buses – one of which was loaned to the school just three months ago from Oxfordshire County Council – were melted by the heat of the fire, she said.

A window was also smashed in the blaze.

Mrs Lawley said: “We are not 100 per cent sure what will happen to the buses, but I think one of them is not repairable.

“They are not drivable, they are off the road, but whether they will be written off or not I don’t know.”

The two vehicles, which were used to take children on trips to places such as the town library and Witney Leisure Centre, are worth about £35,000 in total.

Mrs Lawley said: “Most of the 12 classes tend to have a visit into the community each week.

“Some of them use the leisure centre, other classes use the local facilities in the community like the library and shops.

“It’s really to develop their personal and social skills so that they can go out into the community.

“The buses are used a lot.

“It will inconvenience us for some time if we have two buses off the road.”

She added: “We try to do activities outside of the school environment more so than mainstream schools.

“I’m currently looking at our timetable for the other buses and for a few weeks we might have to do double runs and we might have to hire buses.

“It’s very frustrating as we can’t carry on as normal and the activities we do are those we have agreed are what the children need.”

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “Children at Springfield School who have a range of learning disabilities used these vehicles for a variety of activities.

“We condemn the mindless vandals who torched these mini-buses and are extremely disappointed and saddened by the whole situation.”

Springfield School has about 90 pupils.

Mrs Lawley appealed for anyone with any information about the fire to contact Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505.

Alternatively, speak to the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk