THIEVES stole £4,000 from a Westhoughton primary school — just three months after it won a bid for police money seized from criminals.

Washacre Primary School was raided at 9.55pm on Thursday, when burglars smashed their way in through the front door.

They triggered the school's alarm but found keys to the safe and stole the cash. The raiders escaped before police arrived.

In February, the school was awarded £1,500 after successfully competing for a slice of £25,000 of police cash seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Police described the theft as sickening.

Teachers and parents have been raising money for the last few months to help pay for a year six residential trip, which the school estimated would have cost about £3,000.

The school's headteacher Jenny Haunch had also raised about £700 by completing endurance challenge Born Survivor.

Carl Messenger, business manager at Washacre, said: "Police were giving money back to the community when we got the £1,500.

"Now we are victims of a crime.

"I feel guilty because I am ultimately responsible for the schools money.

"Kids and parents have been donating like nobody's business and now it has gone.

"One grandparent has been in and given £150 because of the money we have lost.

"It really touches you when that sort of thing happens."

No computer equipment was stolen and police are not linking the raid to any of the other recent break-ins at Bolton schools.

Last week police linked two burglaries at Horwich Parish Primary School to a third one at Kearsley Academy.

Det Chf Insp Rick Jackson said: "Theft from schools in any form impacts on the whole community.

"We entrust the safety of our children to these establishments and yet someone has seen fit to target it.

"What will make it more sickening for the community is that the school clearly strives to support the community having recently won a bid for money from the police to bolster their work.

"We recognise that this is sure to cause anger in the community but a police investigation is ongoing and will strive to identify the culprits."

Teachers and parents met on Friday to discuss what can be done.

Parent Mike Gresty has five children at the school.

He said: "All this money has been raised over the last few months to pay for the weekend away.

"I feel sorry for the teachers who have put a lot of effort in, especially Miss Haunch, to raise the money.

"You just hope that somebody knows something about this and that they can get the money back."

People can donate to the school by visiting the website www.washacre.bolton.sch.uk.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5608.