Arsonists destroy Santa's grotto for a second time at Lanarkshire ASN school following community effort

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Christmas cheers turned to tears after a wooden cabin used as Santa’s Grotto was targeted twice in despicable arson attacks at a school for children with additional support needs.Mindless vandals destroyed the cabin at Firpark School in Motherwell, and then after the local community had rallied round to help pay for a replacement it was torched days later in another senseless attack.The original bespoke wooden structure had been lovingly built by staff members in the outdoor area during lockdown and is the centre-piece for the school’s Winter Wonderland in the run-up to Christmas.

It was torched on Thursday, December 8, not long after the school day had finished.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Following the initial incident Fiona Graham from Overtown, who is chair of Firpark Parent Council, said: “The children were devastated and we feel really bad for the staff who built it as well, it was all their hard work up in smoke.“One wee girl was so upset she told her mum Santa was dead, because she knew that’s where he appears.”Local residents had alerted the emergency services after spotting the fire around 5pm that day.When Forest Craft in Newhouse heard about the destruction of the cabin the company offered to install a replacement structure at a fraction of the normal price.