Tredegar community 'devastated' after school bus is stolen and torched

A tight-knit community has been left feeling "absolutely devastated" after a much-loved school minibus was stolen before being burnt out and abandoned. St Joseph's R C Primary School in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, described the bus, which was used for school trips and community events, as a "lifeline" for the children. Head teacher John McMorrow said it was "quite emotional" seeing the burnt shell of the bus after it was found in the Merthyr Tydfil area a day after the theft on March 1. The community has since rallied around the school, setting up a fundraiser for a replacement. Police said investigations into the theft were ongoing. McMorrow, 57, said he "couldn't understand" why anyone would want to steal the 10-year-old minibus. "We didn't think it would be of any value to anybody," he added. The vehicle was stolen at about 17:25 GMT on 1 March before the head teacher received "tip-offs" from parents that it had been abandoned on Merthyr Tydfil's Bogey Road. "My secretary and I drove over there and by chance we found it," he said. "Although the bus was a complete shell, we could still make out part of the logo on the driver's door." McMorrow said he felt "quite emotional" as it "su