A primary school whose pet rabbit and guinea pig were burned to death by sick thugs has been overwhelmed with offers of money and new pets.

Children returned to St Swithun's Primary School, Grundy Crescent, Kennington, after the weekend to find that mindless vandals had broken into the school and set fire to the animals' hutch.

The thugs then dumped the charred bodies of the pets in a children's sandpit.

Teachers who discovered the grisly scene had to break the tragic news to tearful pupils, some as young as three, who were said to be devastated. But thanks to the Oxford Mail, offers of replacements for the pets have flooded in to the school from across the county. In fact they have had so many they don't know what to do.

Headteacher Jill Evans said: "We have had lots of offers from across Oxfordshire both from parents and from people who have phoned us - we even had an offer from Bicester Garrison.

"It has been very, very nice to feel so well supported." She said

Mrs Evans said that the school would not be taking up any of the offers until the offenders had been caught for fear of them striking again.

She said: "At the moment the staff don't want to replace the pets and take the risk of this happening again but we do appreciate the offers."

Anyone with information can call police on 01235 555959 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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