Sponsored by
Video: Anger as yobs wreck tots' new playhouse
TODDLERS have been left distraught after vandals wrecked their new playhouse just four days after it was completed.
TODDLERS have been left distraught after vandals wrecked their new playhouse just four days after it was completed.Vandals left a trail of destruction when they struck at Woodston Nursery, in Celta Road, Peterborough, smashing the plastic windows, hurling toys on to the ground and tipping play equipment over.
Just days before, thrilled youngsters had been enjoying the facility for the first time.
When they were told about the vandalism, there were tears and questions of "why did somebody do this?"
The playhouse had been built using part of a hard-won 10,000 grant from Peterborough City Council to improve the outside area for the children.
Costing more than 600, it was filled with toys and aimed to develop their sensory and play skills.
But yesterday morning, all that was destroyed when deputy manager Jane Beddow arrived to find it had been trashed by yobs who scaled a high fence to get on to the site.
Nursery staff said they may have to install a security system to prevent it happening again.
Miss Beddow said: "All the stuff from the playhouse had been tipped all over the floor. It was just everywhere.
"They had pushed the climbing frame on to its side and smashed the majority of the plastic windows in the playhouse.
"I cleaned it up, but we told the children what had happened afterwards."
She said they were worried that the children's pet rabbit had been harmed, but luckily, it was fine.
She added: "I felt sickened. How could somebody do that to nursery children's stuff?"
Manager Becky Dix was also devastated. She had worked hard to secure a grant, and the pixie cottage playhouse was one of the main purchases.
She said: "It was completed on Sunday and the children came in on Monday and Tuesday and absolutely loved it.
"They were all fighting over the house, they were so excited."
But that enthusiasm was short-lived after the playhouse was ruined some time on Wednesday evening.
Miss Dix said: "It's their play area – who would want to destroy that?"
She said a police officer would be monitoring the nursery in the evenings in a bid to find those responsible.
If you have any information, call police on 0845 456 4564, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.