VOLUNTEER civil servants spent three days revamping the play area at Icknield Special School, Andover - but it was vandalised before pupils could even see it.

Stephen Steer-Smith, Icknield School's head teacher said: "When people give up so much of their spare time and energies, it's really sad if it's then destroyed.

Especially as pupils have not even seen what they achieved."

A team of 14 people from the Defence Logistic Organisation's light armoured system support, headed by Major Ian Vaissiere whose four-year-old son goes to the school, concentrated on the play area for the school's two to six-year-olds.

The project was part of the Prime Minister's challenge, which is open to all civil servants. They are given up to three days paid leave to do undertake work in the community.

Last week they assembled a sea-saw, a swing with specially designed seats and painted a fibre-glass slide. The team also added poles with a canopy covering the wooden decking so that children would not slip when it's wet.

A play-climbing frame was also erected, as well as a green house.

The group also moved a shed and put down a base for it.

But just three days later, on bank holiday Monday, vandals wrecked the place.

They bent the seat swings, broke down four of the poles and slashed through the canopy.

Wendy Rafferty, admin officer at the school believes others will now be tempted to finish the vandals' wrecking spree.

Pat West, former mayor and Test Valley Borough Councillor, said: "It's so sad. Sick mindless morons took pleasure from doing this and it just fills me with pure revulsion and disgust that someone could stoop so low as to damage facilities that would have enriched our special children's lives."

Last month Pat West and her husband stood outside the DLO buildings at 7.30am and raised £380 from staff for the project. In total the project cost over £700. Now Pat West is concerned the DLO will become disillusioned about helping the community. She said: "The DLO have supported many community projects that we really appreciate and respect. We are so grateful to them."