A school bus for children with special needs has been taken off the roads after being damaged extensively from an act of vandalism, a school associate said.

Smiley’s Bus is used by the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy to transport pupils and teachers, who could be left stranded while the vehicle is being repaired.

A spokeswoman for the Friends of Hope Academy, the charity that funds the school, said: “We are conscious of the detrimental impact not having an operational bus will have on the school’s students being able to participate in important community-based instruction and enjoy other outings, and are considering ways that this impact can be mitigated, including exploring alternative transport options and obtaining funding for same.”

She added: “While this senseless incident is indeed discouraging, it in no way diminishes our charity’s commitment to do whatever we can to assist the wonderful students at Hope Academy, and young persons with special needs in Bermuda more broadly.”

She was speaking after the Smiley’s Bus, parked at the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy in Devonshire, was attacked last Friday. Damage was also done to the school premises.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service confirmed that officers attended the school after its alarm was activated around 9.10pm on Saturday.

He said: “Upon arrival, officers observed damage to the school’s main entrance, as well as to the windscreen of the school minibus. The scene was processed by forensic officers.

“At present, this appears to be an act of vandalism as no items have been reported as being removed from the property.”

The minibus was gifted to the Friends of Hope Academy in 2018 by Validus Re to replace the school’s previous 11-year-old vehicle.

It was named in memory of Jack Silvester, a boy who died at a very young age.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Pc Jordan Basden by calling 211 or e-mailing jordan.basden@bps.bm.

• This story has been updated to include a comment from the Bermuda Police Service.