CHILDREN at a school near Malvern were heartbroken after thieves broke in and stole their toys and playground equipment.

The theft from Leigh and Bransford Primary School was discovered on Friday morning (January 13) as children left lessons for their morning break.

Headteacher Stuart Bill said: “We approached the shed where we keep the play equipment, and the first sign that something was wrong came when we saw the first aid chair was outside the shed.

“At first I thought someone must have left it out the previous evening, but we soon saw what had happened.”

The shed, and several others in the school, had been broken into and much of their contents stolen.

The haul included a huge range of toys and play equipment, including space hoppers. giant Connect 4 sets, Lego and other construction toys, bats, balls and skipping ropes.

Sheds used by the parentteacher association and the reception classes were also raided and more toys stolen, as well as items donated to the PTA as prizes for fund-raising raffles. Soft outdoor furniture was also stolen from a playhouse.

Mr Bill said: “Most of the items were clearly children’s toys, so the thieves must have known what they were stealing.

“I can’t imagine why anyone would do this. The children, the staff and the parents were absolutely outraged when they heard what happened. Some of the children were in tears.

“A little primary school like this is much more like a home environment than a corporate workplace, so we do take something like this very personally.”

The total value of the stolen goods is about £1,000; many items were donated to the school by well-wishers and supporters.

Mr Bill says a hole was found in a fence, hidden by hedges.

“We think instead of using the Hoopers Close entrance, they took the stuff out to a car parked in a layby on the main road,” he said.

Celia Pritchard, whose grandchildren Jack and Emma Sandy attend the school, said: “How can somebody break in and steal the children's toys like this? They must be really heartless.”

Police want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between 1pm on Thursday, January 12, and 11.30am on Friday.

Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting crime number 215s/130112 or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.