NURSERY children and staff have been left ‘truly devastated’ after their outdoor area was targeted by vandals.

Hundreds of pounds worth of damage was caused to outdoor play equipment at Frizington Nursery and Pre-school over the weekend.

The incident is being investigated by police who are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Whitehaven News: Damaged equipment at Frizington Nursery & Pre-schoolDamaged equipment at Frizington Nursery & Pre-school (Image: Submitted)

Charlotte Oddie, executive headteacher, said: "As a school we are truly devastated that our School Nursery has been targeted by vandalism last weekend.

"We came in on Monday morning to find that parts of our outdoor area had been destroyed including the children's climbing frame and painting easels.

"We had our outdoor area renovated in the Autumn Term of 2023 and spent over £30,000 ensuring that our wonderful children had an exciting, purposeful outdoor learning environment.

"The children were saddened and shocked by what had happened, and we have used this as an opportunity to teach the children about how important it is to respect our school and our local community.

"The staff and the children will be planning and organising a Summer Fair, to try and raise money to replace the damaged resources and equipment.

"All the staff, children and parents are distraught that this would happen in our local community.

"The police have been informed and members of the public can contact the police if they have any information, quoting the police crime number, CP-20240422-0027."

Whitehaven News: Children have been left without resources and equipmentChildren have been left without resources and equipment (Image: Submitted)

A spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: “Police received a report of criminal damage to the outside of the children’s play area at Frizington Nursery School on April 22.

“A wooden climbing frame, plastic water tray, plastic football nets, wooded stand easel and plastic storage boxes were damaged during the incident.

“The damage is reported to have taken place between 3:30pm on April 19 and 8am on April 22.

“Anyone with any information relating to the incident can report via www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it quoting log number 27 of 22 April. You can also call on 101.”