Pupils and staff clean up park after acts of vandalism

As part of the school’s iVision initiative, a group of more than 10 students and staff – who weren’t involved in the vandalism – spent a day at Fountain Fields in Queen Street.

The children cleaned equipment and planted flowers as part of the project, which was organised in liaison with Middlewich Vision, Ansa representatives and the police.

One of the most high profile acts of vandalism involving Middlewich High School pupils was the graffiti left earlier this year in Stallard Way park, which remains chained off.

A mum took to Facebook in May after learning that her child, a Middlewich High School pupil, was involved in a vandalism incident. She was commended for posting a heartfelt apology.

PCSO Dave Jinks, who attended the iVision event, said: “It was a good turnout – they replanted all the flowerbeds and did quite a good job. They did a litter pick and cleaned all the apparatus that the children use.

“The [Stallard Way] park is still closed, I don’t know when it will be up and running again.”

Stallard Way park has been a hotspot for vandalism over the past few years, despite being refurbished at a cost of £60,000 and reopened in November 2014.

Improvements to the play area included a new range of play equipment, safer surfacing, a new community orchard and trimming of surrounding shrubs and plants.

The project was funded by a grant from environmental body WREN, as well as contributions from Middlewich Town Council and Middlewich Vision.

A Middlewich High School spokesperson said: “As a school we were made aware that a small number of young people from the local area were involved in defacing items in the park.

“Students at Middlewich High School were keen to show their support for excellent recreation facilities in their local community.

“Our students will definitely help again and are determined to be the role models for safe and respectful use of our local facilities.”