NURSERY children have been left devastated after thieves stole their playground toys.

The riding toys were taken from Chantlers Pre-School, which lies in the grounds of Chantlers Primary School in Foulds Avenue, Elton Vale.

Manager Julia Coles said the 52 children and eight members of staff at the school had been left upset by the incident. She said: "We have had quite a few balance bikes and ride-on tractors and other equipment stolen from our garden.

"It equates to around £500 of equipment for children aged three and four. There's no damage to the building, at least none visible, and we discovered the theft when the children went to go to play outside. The children love to play outside. They would rather be outdoors than in. They have asked us where their toys are because they can't see them.

"Even the older children know it's not very good. It's upsetting for everybody."

The thief would have had to climb over two fences to gain access to the site between midnight and 9am on Thursday last week.

Among the items taken includes the children's favourite Little Tikes Black Taxi Cozy Coupe Ride-on toy.

Mrs Coles added: "A lot of the bikes that have been taken were paid for or donated by parents because we're a charity pre-school. Some of these have been donated by parents of children who have outgrown them.

"Everything we have we cherish because it takes such a long time for us to get them in the first place.

"We'll have to do a lot of fundraising because for us £500 is a lot of money."

The burglary was the first time the pre-school has been targeted in its 25 year history.

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101.