Vandals trash nursery's toys
10:26am Tuesday 15th July 2008
TOYS worth hundreds of pounds were destroyed by vandals who broke into a Basingstoke nursery.
Staff from Chineham Park Pre-School, in Popley, broke down in tears when they went to open up the nursery and saw the damage.
Sue Kelly, pre-school manager, said: "Broken toys were strewn all over the playground.
"Some tricycles that we were going to use in our sports day had the wheels snapped off. Benches were damaged along with plants that the children had grown.
"The people who did this had no thought or care for their actions or whom they might be hurting. It is just not fair on the children."
She said the police had been informed of the vandalism.
Fiona McArthur, of Browning Close, whose four-year-old daughter Elise attends the nursery, said: "Everyone is really upset by what happened. Some of the toys were donated by parents or bought with money raised by the pre-school.
"How do you explain what has happened to a two, three or four-year-old?"
It is thought the cost of replacing the toys could be up to £800.
Anyone who can assist the nursery by providing new toys should contact 01256 464750.