Defecating yobs in wrecking spree at Walsall nursery
A nursery owner has been left devastated after thousands of pounds worth of play equipment was stolen or destroyed by yobs.
Tots Care Play Group on Harden Road, Walsall, was targeted over the weekend with trespassers seen on the site on Sunday afternoon.
Owner Stella Pettifer has run the facility for more than two decades, and has been left heartbroken.
The 54-year-old says it will cost more than £2,000 to replace the equipment, which included a fully kitted out playhouse, as well as several bikes and scooters.
She said: “If they haven’t stolen it, they have trashed it.
“They have emptied their bowels all over the garden, which took us years to build up to get it to the way it was.
“Everything has had to be thrown away. It will probably cost us between £2,000 to £3,000 to replace everything.
“We were away in the Lake District until Sunday night and when I came down here I was just devastated.”
The nursery caters for around 85 children a week during school term time.
And although it is the school holidays, Ms Pettifer was forced to cancel two afternoon play sessions on Monday because she was still cleaning up.
Residents living near the nursery have already started clubbing together to help raise the money needed to replace the equipment.
Ms Pettifer added: “I am just really angry and upset about it. But I am really appreciative of everything the community have offered to do since.”
A man, who did not wish to be named, said that he had seen a white Ford Transit van parked up outside the nursery at around 12.20pm on Sunday – and also witnessed two adults and two children on the grounds.
The resident told how he confronted the adults in the group, but was met with verbal abuse from the pair.
West Midlands Police spokesperson Craig Hughes said yesterday: “We have received a report of theft at Harden Road Centre and have arranged a meeting with management today at their convenience.”
