Vandals have trashed a school's garden days before it was due to open to the public as part of a national initiative.

Staff and pupils at St Joseph's Primary in Davey Drive, Hollingdean, Brighton, were devastated when they arrived at school this morning to find the damage.

Apple trees had been broken, plants ripped up and thrown into a pond and ceramic pots with flowers planted by five-year-olds were smashed on the ground.

Deputy head Sarah Benham said the vandalism was devastating at a time when the school had begun to take a real pride in the transformation that its grounds had undergone.

It has been part of the BBC's Breathing Places project, completely revamping its outdoor areas, and was due to unveil them to the public this weekend.

Thousands of pounds of grants and school funds and hours of work have been put in to the transformation.