BURRATON school, which was hit by vandals some months ago who caused a total cost of £10,000 worth of damage, is now benefiting from the backing of the local community.

Since the vandals struck, damaging equipment and children's work, local people and organisations - who were appalled by what happened - have rallied round and have been holding fund-raising events in aid of the school.

The latest was a concert held at Saltash Wesley church on Friday evening, organised by former head teacher at Burraton, John Pearn and starring current and former pupils.

Present head teacher, Peter Hunkin, explained that the clear up operation, added to the items damaged, made the damage total £10,000. The school was, however, covered by the county's in-house insurance, which has meant that basic replacements have been bought - but the money that has come in from events will enable the new equipment to be better than it was before. The materials lost and the equipment which was smashed cost in the region of £6,000, although he stressed that no value could be put on the children's work that was destroyed.

He said the school was very grateful to those who have helped raise funds to enable them to recover from the vandalism - the next such fund-raising event being at the China Fleet club on April 17. Sapphire, a female vocalist from Plymouth who performs a wide range of music, has volunteered to put on the show free of charge, with Teacha as her special guest. Tickets at £2.50 each or £4 per couple are on sale at the school, or will be available on the door, the evening starting at 8pm.

At Friday's concert, Mr Pearn said the fund had reached £700 up until then. He welcomed Saltash deputy mayor, Bryan Preston, who gave the vote of thanks.

Speech and musical items included in the concert took in brass, flute, saxophone, piano and violin solos, electronic organ, clarinet, recorders and poems. A surprise ending involved Burraton teacher Edward Jacobs playing a duet on the piano with Sue Davies. Children and young people taking part included David Wood, Jessica Kitt, Kayleigh Smith, Danielle Sterland, Victoria Caves, Charlotte Keene, Ebony Barrett, Anna Murton, Richard and Rachael Waters, Natasha Hingston, Rebecca Bazley, Katrina Sterland, Sophie Barrett, Ruth and David Pettit, Sam Laidler, Abigail Ford and Kathryn Hill. Adult accompanists were Sue Davies, Gillian Waters, John Honywill and Derek Kitt.

The church was full for the occasion, and Mr Preston presented a cheque for £350 from Saltash town council to the school to help towards the insurance claim.