By Samantha Williams, Australasian Business Intelligence.

A primary school in a small Snowy Mountains town in New South Wales has lost its supply of drinking water. It was stolen by thieves, more evidence of how damaging the drought has become. Police believe that they came with a truck over two nights and emptied the fresh water tank.

Nimmitabel Primary School has 27 pupils.They have now embarked on a fundraising drive to buy drinking water. Principal Jo Jones said on 18 September 2006 she could not understand how people could do such a thing.

About 91.8 per cent of the state is suffering drought conditions.