A NURSERY has been left with thousands of pounds worth of damage after being ransacked by burglars.

A window was smashed and three doors were badly damaged at Little Stompers Day Nursery, in Bradford Street, after the break-in shortly before 1am this morning.

Police officers arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the burglary, and found a window had been smashed.

They searched the building and found a 33-year-old man hiding inside. He was arrested at the scene and remains in custody.

The nursery's manager Yvonne Beard says she is "disgusted" at what happened, adding: "It is absolutely awful that people can break into a children's nursery.

"I do not know why they are targeting us."

As well as the window, the burglars also smashed the nursery's alarm box and damaged a kitchen door and two doors in the upstairs pre-school unit.

£50 in cash was also taken from a cash box, as well as a camera.

Despite the damage, the nursery has remained open this morning after managers found a room for children.

However, it is estimated that repairing the damage will set the nursery back thousands of pounds.

Ms Beard said: "They have totally ransacked the place.

"This happens regularly. We have had about five or six attempted break-ins in the last year.

"On Sunday, someone tried to get in through the side door, but the alarm went off and it must have frightened them away.

"This time, it has not scared them."

The nursery opened in 2008 and employed eight staff members and had 37 children on roll when it was last inspected by Ofsted four years ago.