A nursery has been left counting the cost after its playhouse was trashed.

New Longton under-5s nursery was targeted over the Easter Bank Holiday.

The building in Boundary Close had the playhouse destroyed, and children were unable to play outside during Tuesday (23 April) because of screws that came out of the wooden play house and littered the playground.

A group of youths – who are understood to be responsible – tried to move tractor tyres the children play with but failed to shift them. The nursery has moved them into a gated compound of the garden area.

Parent Janet Quinlan, who has children at the nursery, posted pictures of the damage to Facebook and has launched a fundraising appeal.

She said: “This playhouse has stood for four years without incident.

The nursery had aimed to have CCTV installed, but due to cost constraints were unable to do so. I am a parent and I will be paying for CCTV to be put up in the garden and in the playground.

“Somebody must know who these youths are.”

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Janet has so far raised £475 through the Facebook appeal.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call South Ribble Police on 101.