Braintree: Head's surprise after helicopter and dog unit sent to catch lads who took plastic goalposts (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Braintree: Head's surprise after helicopter and dog unit sent to catch lads who took plastic goalposts

1:46pm Wednesday 18th July 2012 in News By Carri-Ann Taylor, Reporter

The police helicopter and dog units hunted two boys who took plastic goal posts from a school field.

The headteacher of Rayne Primary School, Andy Wright, said he was “very surprised” to hear police had launched the large scale operation to recover equipment worth less than £100.

It costs the Essex police helicopter around £700 to be airborne for an hour.

However a spokesman said once launched the chopper can be deployed to more than one incident.

The squads were sent out after an off-duty policeman spotted two teenagers acting suspiciously on the grounds of Rayne Primary School, Capel Road on Thursday evening.

He contacted the Essex police control room which drafted in the helicopter and dog units.

Two 16-year-old boys from the Braintree area were arrested and the football goals were recovered.

They received a police reprimand.

Mr Wright said: “I believe the boys came on to the school grounds in the evening and picked up a set of small plastic posts that were on the grass.

“I was very surprised when the caretaker told me the police helicopter had been sent out."

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