A COMMUNITY has rallied round after children were left devastated by the theft of their school’s chickens.

The Echo told last week how crooks broke into the new chicken coop at Felmore Primary School, in Davenants, Pitsea.

The birds had only been in their new home for a few days when thieves cut their way in with wire cutters, stole three of the six chickens and kicked another so badly it had to be put down.

Only two chickens survived, leaving pupils and staff devastated.

However, their spirits have been lifted after several members of the community got in touch to help.

Libby Price, a nine-year-old pupil at the school, has donated her pocket money to pay for one of the birds to be replaced, and Pitsea-based police constable Alan Ratnage has also paid for a new chicken.

A farmer in Suffolk, who heard about the story, also got in touch to offer some of his chickens, while Havering-based council worker Dave Smith has also offered a donation.

And Billericay Fencing has offered to donate its time, staff and equipment to repair the coop and fit it with vandal-proof wire.

Linda Oliffe, business manager at the school, said: “It’s been lovely that the community has really pulled together to support us.

“The police have been brilliant and are exhausting their lines of inquiry to catch those responsible.

“We’ve also had lots of people offering money to buy chickens and offering to donate birds, including one of our own pupils, Libby, who has offered her pocket money. It’s just nice that from something negative, something really positive has come out of it.”

Police are still investigating the theft, which happened on Saturday, September 7.

Anyone with information about the break-in can contact police at Basildon on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555111.