Students at a Thornton Heath primary school have been left heartbroken after their new picnic tables were stolen before they could even be used.

For months, parents and teachers at St James the Great Primary School raised enough money to buy tables and benches so that the kids could enjoy their lunch outside in the sun.

Then on Friday (May 11), the seats finally arrived.

"The kids were quite excited to have some new seats," chairwoman of the school's Friends Association, Sharron Shakespeare said.

"We wanted to get them just in time for summer so they could take their lunches outside and have nice picnics."

But just a day later, the seats were gone.

"We didn't even have a chance to put them up," Mrs Shakespeare said.

"The kids came in on Monday expecting to see then new seats up so were pretty disappointed when they found out what had happened.

"As you can imagine, we are extremely devastated not to be able to provide our children with opportunity to work and eat their lunches outside.

"The children and parents have worked so hard fundraising to purchase these.

In total, the tables and benches cost £2500, all from money raised.

But after sharing their story on Facebook and seeing the positive comments, the school decided to set up a Crowdfunding page in the hopes of buying a new set in time for summer.

"So many people were asking if they could donate and it restores your faith in the community," Mrs Shakespeare said.

"That's why we set up the Crowdfunding page.

"It's also nice or the children to see that even if there are some mean people in the world, there are more good ones."

So far more than £500 has been raised to help the school purchase the new equipment.

To view the Crowdfunder page, click here.