Child travellers allegedly left this shocking scene for teachers after trashing a nursery over the weekend and forcing it to close for the first day of term.
Youngsters from an illegal encampment are said to have climbed an 8ft fence, smashed open a shed door and flicked paint over a well-tended play area.
Broken brand new toys were strewn across the site in Witham, Essex, bird seed was dumped on the ground and hundreds of pounds’ worth of damage was caused.
Youngsters from an illegal encampment are said to have climbed an 8ft fence, smashed open a shed door and flicked paint over the well-tended play area in Witham, Essex
Broken brand new toys were strewn across the site at Mini Marvels Nursery, bird seed was dumped on the ground and hundreds of pounds’ worth of damage was caused
A roll of artificial grass was even stolen in the raid on Mini Marvels Nursery, forcing staff to cancel yesterday’s lessons.
Horrified owner Claire Micallef, 37, has thrown out all the toys after the attack which came after ten caravans appeared on the neighbouring Witham Rugby Club.
The mother-of-three said: ‘It was just very, very upsetting and very invasive. What wasn’t stolen had to be binned because it was so damaged or covered in paint.
‘There was a tin of emulsion that was just poured everywhere. Stuff was broken and we had some new toys that were broken in half and thrown over a fence.
A roll of artificial grass was even stolen in the raid, forcing staff to cancel yesterday’s essons
The horrified owner has thrown out all the toys after the attack which came after ten caravans appeared on the neighbouring Witham Rugby Club
‘We just took the decision to start again. Anyone who can do this to a nursery and in particularly do it to a nursery are not very nice people.
‘I don’t really want to go into it. We had a lot of brand new toys we purchased for the start of the new term and we never had a chance to use them.’
Despite the chaos a team of volunteers managed to clean up the site and the nursery opened today.
The rugby club was forced to cancel a fun day and human faeces was found flicked on their play equipment.
Despite the chaos, volunteers managed to clean up the site and the nursery opened today
Local Conservative MP Priti Patel said after the vandalism suffered by the rugby club: ‘I am appalled by the illegal encampment over the weekend at Witham Rugby Club.’
The secretary of state for international development: ‘The damage and destruction caused is disgusting.’
An Essex Police spokesman said: ‘Police received reports that a group of children had vandalised a nursery in Spa Road, Witham shortly after 12pm on Saturday, September 2.
‘The group climbed a fence and entered the outdoor playground area. Toy cupboards were broken into and toys scattered across the ground. Enquiries continue.’
Although some local people are said to have evidence that youngsters from the travellers’ site were involved, it is understood that this has not yet been presented to police.