VANDALS destroyed a wildlife haven created by volunteers.

The pond and outdoor classroom area was created by Castle Point Wildlife Group in Westwood, near Hedge Lane in Hadleigh, for schools and community groups to use.

But the site, paid for with a grant worth nearly £6,000 from the Veolia North Thames Trust, has had to be closed after vandals threw logs and rubbish into the pond.

Eyewitnesses claim they saw three youngsters wearing Deanes School uniforms causing trouble at the site on Thursday, but the culprits have not yet been found.

Neal Warren, chairman of Castle Point Wildlife Group, said: “I was contacted by a resident to say she had seen three youths throwing logs and rubbish in to the pond.

“They were wearing the Deanes School uniform and she spoke with them asking them to stop. I am told they responded by saying ‘Why? It is just a muddy hole.’ “By the time I had arrived they had left but the pond was full of rubbish and wood. I removed most of the rubbish to prevent it contaminating the water.”

The lining of the pond has been ruined and the wildlife group will now have to clear the mess and repair the damage.

The Deanes School says it will get the police involved following the incident and will send a team of students to help carry out repairs.

Mr Warren said: “While we appreciate the school’s offer, we will have to spend time repairing the pond which is a haven to wildlife.

“We are gutted that after a campaign by the local community to save Deanes School from closure, a minority of their pupils have undertaken such vandalism. I hope they will raise the incident with all pupils to explain how such behaviour causes not only damage to the woods and wildlife, but also to the school’s reputation.”

The school and wildlife group will meet to discuss the incident next week.

Jan Atkinson, Deanes headteacher, said: “We will be working very closely with the Castle Point Wildlife Group and will make sure our community action groups of students work with the group.

“If we have the names of the students involved, or if someone could identify the students involved, we will get the police involved. We come down very hard on that.

“Wewouldn’t want this for the community who have worked so hard for us.”