Schoolchildren are upset after arsonists set their carefully-crafted poetry alight.

Around 40 poems written by pupils at Somerhill Junior School, Hove, were displayed on a Willow Tree for the public to enjoy.

But days after being put up in St Anne’s Well Garden, thoughtless arsonists set fire to the work.

Deputy head teacher Helen Longton-Howorth said: “Quite a few were burnt, we’re very disappointed.

“The children thought it was really naughty. They were really sad, they said ‘It must be big boys’.

“Whoever did this clearly has no respect for other people’s work.

“One of the destroyed poems was in the shape of a teardrop and talked about salty tears.

“It was quite fitting because the girl who had written it looked really sad.”

The works are written every year for national poetry week.

After the vandalism the school say they won’t be able to display the work again.

Ms Longton-Howorth added: “We’ve been doing it for years and they are very well received “We often get emails from members of the public who enjoy reading them.

“They put a lot of work into it. We only put up 10 per class so the children who get chosen feel really special.

“I don’t think we can put them on the tree again after this.”

National Poetry Day has been established for 20 years, with the school taking part for several years.

This year’s theme “Water, water everywhere”, is taken from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which aims to kick-start inspiration for participants.

National Poetry Day aims to celebrate diversity, attract new readers and capture the public’s imagination, while removing some of the elitist stigma attached to verse.