HEARTLESS thieves drained the oil tank of a primary school in a West Oxfordshire village.

The Great Tew school, based only a few miles from Chipping Norton, suffered great losses last weekend when criminals took away with all its fuel.

The old Victorian building, which will now turn into an 'ice box', is currently open for the children of key workers.

Even more, its tank was only filled up with fuel just before Christmas.

To make matters worse, the heating system is now also broken and the school was forced to phone an emergency plumber.

A fundraiser was launched on Tuesday by Steven Webster-edge, one of Great Tew's parents and active community member, to help the school replace the losses.

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In a statement on the Just Giving page, he said: "Like all charities, our little school has had its fundraising hit really hard over the last year.

"This is the very last thing that we need let alone the impact that its had on the staff and children – already admirably keeping smiles on their faces.

"A lot of parents and people within the community have asked how to donate and help so here we are.

"We really do understand that this is a tough time for so many but if you can and would like to help our little school make up for its losses it would be incredible.

"We are looking to replace our losses, secure our tank against future threats, cover the plumber and if by any crazy chance any is left we will pop it into our outdoor playground pot."

A number of parents have already rallied behind the campaign and more than £2,500 have been donated.

One concerned parents Clare Field commented: "I have a child who is still attending school and one at preschool.

"I cannot thank the school enough for their care, what a horrible thing to have happened."