Charred bonfire marks remain on the pagoda at Telford Infants School, in Kelvin Road.

Headteacher Ali Foster expressed the sadness felt as pupils returned from their holiday on February 18 to find the damage.

She said: "The children were astonished that anybody could do something like that to something which belongs to them.

"We spend a lot of time teaching them to respect each others property. For this to happen to them is really disappointing and is really difficult for them to understand.

"It is a wonder the whole thing did not go up in flames."

The outdoor classroom is the fruit of nine months of labour in which those working on the project gave up several weekends and evenings.

It can accommodate up to 30 students and is used in good weather to teach normal lessons is also a quiet reading area for the children.

Mrs Foster said: "A lot of time and effort has gone into the building and preparation of this area and it won a Britain in Bloom Award last year.

"We don't expect the damage is going to cost an awful lot but that is not the point.Somebody will have to come and spend more time and effort to repair it. It is the whole lack of respect which is bad."

A parent who helped build the pagoda but declined to be named said: "We have had the occasional problem with kids going on the school ground but we thought we had got to the bottom of it. This is a good reminder for local residents to keep an eye out for people on the site outside of school hours.

"We didn't have a big budget and it was a nice community project where all the kids and parents mucked in. It is disappointing that for no good reason reckless damaged has been caused."

Police are considering patrolling the area around the school and have delivered letters to residents appealing for them to be vigilant. Anyone with information should call 415000 ext 4283.