Children upset after arsonist burns down favourite play area

The fire bug set light to a thatched hut in the playground of The Glade Infant School.

The building was burnt to the ground to leave the four to seven-year-olds upset at the loss of one of their favourite sites for playing.

Headteacher Lin Chaplin said: "The children are very sad about what has happened.

"They can't really understand how someone would do something like that to a place they play with in their playground.

"They are very disappointed this could happen in a area used by young children. And I am, too."

The hut was attacked just after 9pm on Wednesday, June 10.

Two fire crews from Bognor fire station attended the blaze. They spent just over 20 minutes at the scene but were unable to save the hut.

It was built about three years ago as part of a history project and could not be seen from the school's approach road.

Made of wattle and daub, and topped by thatch, it was created to show the children how buildings were made in the past.

The hut stood about six feet tall and had enough room for two or three children to go inside.

Its popularity as a den led to it being kept after the classroom project had ended.

Miss Chaplin said the children had asked for a new hut. But this would depend on the school's future as part of a new primary school on the Westloats Lane campus.

Building work on the 10m project is well under way and will be finished early next year.

"I told the children having a new hut depends on the amount of space there is around the new school," explained Miss Chaplin.

"But, if there is space and the children would still like it to happen, I am sure a new hut could be built."

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP