A HEADTEACHER has heralded the “overwhelming generosity” of his school’s community as parents, pupils, teachers and more worked together to restore a vandalised school bus.

The converted vehicle was used as a colourful outdoor learning space by St Nicolas Primary School in Portslade but earlier this month it was destroyed by vandals.

A gang of youngsters broke every window as they pelted the bus with hockey balls then ripped the seats and attempted to set it alight on January 6.

But the school has refused to be beaten.

Instead, a team of volunteers was on the site the following day tidying up the mess and beginning restoration work on the bus, which had been donated by Brighton and Hove Buses.

Since then, the bus company has replaced every single window while the school’s community has been busy restoring the hub to its former glory.

Headteacher Andy Richbell said: “The kindness and generosity we have received from our families, our community, local businesses and complete strangers has been overwhelming.

“Our children are aged from four years old and many of them were upset, angry and afraid following the destruction of their bus. They now only talk about how kind everyone has been to them.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who has helped us.

“You have helped our children feel safe again.”

A crowdfunder campaign set up by teachers in the aftermath of the incident aimed to raise £2,000 to sponsor the restoration.

But it has since received more than 150 donations totalling £5,000.

Cityclean workers from Brighton and Hove City Council swept the school’s playground with one of the service’s road sweeping lorries and helped dispose of the piles of hazardous shards of glass left scattered across the tarmac.

Retail chain B&Q donated furniture and paint while families of pupils gave up their toys and games to the cause.

One former pupil even went into his attic to retrieve his old Lego set, which he duly handed over to the school.