A nursery is raising money for play equipment after toys for pre-school children were smashed by vandals.

Mini Marvels nursery, in Witham, launched appeals for old toy donations after the outdoor area was broken into last week.

The vandals smashed toys inside the nursery’s outdoor play area on Saturday, September 2.

On Friday, September 1, travellers arrived on Spa Road, next to the nursery around 7.30pm.

On Sunday, September 3, Mini Marvels manager Claire Micallef returned to find the outside area smashed.

She said: "Paint was poured all over the toys and the floor, which was not nice to see.

“Items were either stolen or covered in paint so we had to throw them.”

The nursery opened on Tuesday, September 5, and the mess was cleared on Monday by staff.

Claire has set up two appeals, one for the community to donate old toys which were damaged or stolen, and another appeal on a Justgiving fundraising page, which has raised more than £475 of its £300 target.

She said: “Thank you to all those who have already dropped off donations to help us replace the resources we lost.

“We need old pots, pans, utensils and general kitchen items for our outdoor kitchen with sand and mud."

To donate to the nursery through their Justgiving page, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/minimarvelsnursery.