SOME animals died and there was damage to their enclosures during a break-in on Sunday (25) at the Gunnersbury Park campus of Capel Manor College.

Staff are helping police with their inquiries and extra security staff have been deployed on site.

Teaching at Gunnersbury Park was held online on Monday, but in-person teaching has now resumed.

Gunnersbury Park is one of five campuses around London, offering full and part-time courses for school leavers and adults interested in animals, plants and the environment.

Peter Brammall, Capel Manor principal, said: “This has been a terrible episode and my thanks go out to the dedicated team of staff who worked tirelessly over Sunday and Monday to deal with, and restore the devastation left by the intruders.

“Our campus is now back open, student lessons are back on track and the team are working to bring in new animals, to replace those that were sadly lost.”

During the break-in, the college’s much-loved barn owl, Shiraz, escaped and is missing.

Shiraz is white owl with a blue ring on her left ankle. If you see her, do not approach her, but call the college’s emergency 24-hour line on 07713 568 110.

You can also contact the RSPCA between 7am and 10pm on 0300 1234 999 to report the sighting. 

If you witnessed anything on Sunday, call police on 101, quoting the reference CAD1639/25Feb.