COMMUNITY efforts have helped to fund five new bikes for students of Weydon School – after a series of thefts at the start of the school term.

Weydon School’s principal Jackie Sharman set up a JustGiving page after the bikes were stolen from the front of the school – with a target figure of £3,000.

In the post on the JustGiving page, Mrs Sharman said: “I am proud that so many of our students decided to do their bit for the environment and cycle to school.

“The knowledge thieves will even steal from children is shocking.

“As a community we stand together and support each other so replacement bikes seems like a lovely thing to do.”

Following the appeal, the community rallied together and raised £1,045 to replace four bikes, and a fifth was donated by one of the parents for Surrey Air Ambulance.

Mrs Sharman said “I think people’s donations say a lot about the community of Farnham. The students were so upset to have their bikes stolen, even though they had chained them to the bike stands at the front of the school.

“We have been promoting the use of bikes to reduce the number of car and bus journeys to school and improve health and well-being.

“When the mindless thieves decided to attack the school, the emotions were high and we were so disappointed for the students.

“The donation was Farnham community’s way of saying you will not win! The kind donation for Surrey Air Ambulance is wonderful because without this service one of our well-loved students would not be around today. Thank you to each and everyone one that donated.”

Monty Lord, one of the students who received a new bike, said: “I am so thankful to the community for their generosity. I need a bike to get to school every day and I am very grateful to everyone who donated.”