A YORK school will re-open tomorrow after a major clear-up operation in the wake of a burglary which left several rooms badly vandalised.

Gill Williams, headteacher at Dringhouses Primary School, has thanked her staff and governors for 'giving up their weekend' to help put alternative arrangements in place and get the school back up and running.

She said she felt 'so grateful to be part of such a wonderful community.”

She said: “I’m really pleased to be able to confirm that the school will re-open tomorrow as normal. Parents and carers have all been notified directly.

“As you will appreciate, the last few days have been difficult for everyone in our school community.

"I’d like to thank all our parents and carers for their understanding and support, and the children, particularly those who had to take their year 6 SATS in a strange school, who were brilliant.

"I’d also like to thank York High for stepping in to help, and our wider community, including City of York Council and the local media, who have been so supportive."

Police have confirmed that a safe and electrical equipment were stolen during a burglary at the school over the weekend.

The school and City of York Council were left with no choice but to close the school today while repairs were carried out.

The school contacted all parents on Sunday to make them aware of the closure, including those of 39 pupils due to take SAT exams today, who have been forced to take their exams at York High School instead.

North Yorkshire Police said it received a report at about 1.20pm on Saturday that the school had been broken into sometime between 7pm on Friday and the time it was reported.

This morning, a spokeswoman for the force commented: "Once inside, an unknown person stole a safe and electrical equipment from the premises.

"CSI officers have carried out a forensic examination of the scene and police officers are conducting additional inquiries."

Pictures from inside the school showed windows had been smashed, desks and cabinets ransacked and upended, and even ceiling tiles torn down, and volunteers and staff worked throughout Sunday to restore some order in the school.

The school wrote this on Twitter this morning:

Meanwhile, the Tesco store on Tadcaster Road has provided 40 treat bags to the school's pupils who are taking SAT exams at York High.

In a tweet yesterday, the school said: "As you may be aware, this weekend school was broken into with considerable damage caused.

"The safety of the children and the staff is our number one priority and therefore the school will not be open tomorrow."

The school published a tweet on Sunday evening stating: "It has been a difficult weekend for the school community. We are so thankful for all the all the help and support from our staff, our school community", and thanking a number of supporters, the council and North Yorkshire Police.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12190084730.

Alternatively, phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.