'Whatever the thieves got, we've come out winners'

A head teacher said his faith in the community had been restored after £9,000 was raised in days to replace a stolen minibus that was set on fire.

Paul Quinton, head at Caroline Haslett Primary, in Shenley Lodge, Milton Keynes, said the minibus was taken last weekend and discovered, stripped and destroyed, by a parent on Monday.

He said replacing it would cost three times what insurers would pay out.

But Mr Quinton said, whatever the thieves got from removing the engine, the good feeling he and the school had from the money raised and community spirit would "last a lot longer".

Mr Quinton, whose school has 430 pupils, said the bus was taken between 16:00 and 17:00 GMT on 16 November.

He said he was called at about 22:30 on the Saturday to be told the school's backdoor was open and the minibus missing.

He found school fencing had been cut and there was "glass all over the playground where they kept the bus".

The theft was captured on CCTV.

"I was really angry on Saturday night, really upset," he said.

He added he had been left feeling "violated".

But, with the £10,000 fundraising target already nearly reached, he said: "The reaction has really restored my faith in our community."

Mr Quinton thanked everyone who had chipped in.

He said: "Whatever the thieves got from taking the bits they needed, that will be gone in a week or so, the good feeling and the way I feel and the way my school community feels will last a lot longer than that.

"No matter the outcome, we've come out the winner."

Thames Valley Police said it received a report of the theft and was investigating.