YOUNGSTERS have spoken of their heartbreak after vandals set fire to their school's beloved Iron Age roundhouse.

Vandals torched the replica roundhouse in the grounds of the Prince of Wales School, Dorchester earlier this month.

And although teachers and parents at the school have vowed to rebuild the house Year 4 pupils have written letters to the Dorset Echo to say how angry they are at the attack.

Many said how disappointed they were that a traditional end-of-term sleepover in the roundhouse would now not go ahead - although thanks to a local scout group the pupils will still be camping out in a tent.

Headteacher Peter Farrington said that the sleepover in the roundhouse, which was first built in 1999, was a farewell party for pupils who were leaving the school to go to middle school from September.

He said: "Following the fire we have been kindly supported by local scouts, who have provided us with a tent so at least we can proceed with the sleepover even though it's going to be a little bit different."

He said that parents were rallying around and he was hopeful that a replacement roundhouse would be built.

"All the children are very proud of what we have achieved here," he said.

"It's something that we constantly add to.

"Our latest project is a Viking long house and it's possible that is going to have to be delayed so that we can construct the main roundhouse that's been lost."

Year four pupil Holly said in her letter to the Echo: 'I am writing to tell you about how heartbroken I am about the roundhouse getting burnt down as we were supposed to have a sleepover in it very soon. I think the fire was deliberate and the people who did it should get punished. If the fire started to spread our school could of (sic) caught fire as well.

'Our roundhouse will never be the same again.' Pupil Charlotte said: "Our roundhouse was really special so we hope it is rebuilt in time for the sleepover but we know it won't."

Tom said he had been at the school since he was two-and-a-half and had been looking forward to the sleepover.

"These horrible, stupid people have ruined mine and lots of children's fun. I hope they are happy with what they have done, but we are not."

Punished Pal Jamie said all the pupils were shocked and said whoever did it should be punished.

Another pupil, Liam, said: "I am really angry with the vandals who burnt down our roundhouse. We are all very upset because we were going to sleep in it."

Ellen said: "There has been a lot of work done to have this lovely site. I am glad it didn't spread and destroy our other roundhouses. I hope they repair it in future years."

The thatched wattle and daub structure took a year to make and the rebuild costs would be around £5,000.