Lead thieves close primary school in Spinney Hills
A Leicestershire primary school had to send all its pupils home after thieves rendered the buildings unsafe by stealing lead from the roof.
Thieves broke into Sacred Heart primary school in Spinney Hills at the weekend and used crow bars and scaffolding poles to strip lead from the roof.
All 350 pupils were sent home on Tuesday when it became clear a wall could collapse.
It is hoped the school will reopen on Thursday.
Head teacher Gerry Hurst said it was shocking that the thieves put his pupils' lives at risk.
"For the £300 they [thieves] would get from the lead, they put the lives of the children and school staff as risk, which is appalling."
Builder George Matts said the building had been made structurally unsound.
"To get to the lead, they had to prise the ridge tiles off and in doing so, loosened the inner wall and outer wall, causing it to be dangerous to the children below."
The damage to the school will cost about £15,000 to repair.
Leicestershire Police asked anyone with information about the theft to contact them.