A PRIMARY school is shut today (Monday, February 14) after vandals who stole copper piping caused a flood.

Rainham Village Primary School in Upminster Road South, Rainham, was targeted by thieves over the weekend.

A flood in the school’s boiler house was discovered shortly before 7am this morning, and a crew from Wennington fire station was called to pump out the water.

A spokeman for the station said: “Some vandals got in and stole a couple of pounds of copper piping from the roof, but they’ve probably caused thousands of pounds of damage.

“The boiler room had flooded to about four foot deep.”

A message on the school’s website says: “School closed today Monday 14th February due to vandalism.”