SCHOOLCHILDREN have been left heartbroken after burglars stole their pet chickens and kicked one of them so badly it had to be put down.

Thieves broke into the chicken coup and aviary at Felmores Primary School, Davenants, Pitsea, and helped themselves to three of the birds.

They then returned a short time later – as documented by the school’s CCTV cameras – to steal the feeders from the aviary and then kicked one of the chickens, breaking its leg and wing, so it had to be put down.

Linda Oliffe, business manager at the school, said: “The break-in was discovered on Saturday when we found the injured chicken.

“Our staff nursed it over the weekend, until we could get to a vet on Monday, but there was nothing they could do, so we had to have it put down.

“I just don’t know why anyone would do this. We had to break the news to the children in assembly and they were really upset.

“Why would anyone steal chickens? They aren’t worth a lot and the two feeders were only worth about £20 each?.

“This has been very upsetting for us all, but we would appeal to the wider community that if they know who did this – as we believe the thieves must be local – to contact police.”

The school built a new aviary and chicken run over the summer holidays.

It also formed a “chicken committee”, giving youngsters responsibility for caring for the birds and collecting their eggs.

Last week, as children returned from the break, the school bought the six chickens to coincide with the start of term time.

But the thieves, armed with wire cutters, struck on Saturday and are still being hunted by police. Officers are now looking through the school’s CCTV footage to try to catch those responsible.

Witnesses to the theft, which happened on Saturday, September 7, can contact police at Basildon on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.