A Gravesend nursery, its staff and children are “very upset” following claims that youths broke in, damaged property and let out chickens that have now been found dead.

Kids Inc Day Nursery, based in Rochester Road, was broken into twice and the nursery believes, after reviewing CCTV footage, that three teenage boys are responsible.

Kent Police has confirmed that the break-ins took place on August 24 and August 29 in the late evenings.

As well as the damage caused, nursery staff have been forced to explain to children where the chickens they raised from chicks have gone, after they were let out of their coop.

Three were found dead in the nursery garden and staff have presumed that the other two are dead also.

After reviewing CCTV, the nursery manager, Hayley Jones, also believes that one of the boys kicked one of the chickens.

A spokesperson for Kids Inc Day Nursery Gravesend said: “We are very sorry to have to share news of a sad incident.

“On opening our Gravesend nursery last Friday, the nursery manager, Hayley Jones, found that the children’s garden had been vandalised.”

The nursery claims, based on what they saw on CCTV footage, that three teenage boys climbed over the wall and fence to get into the nursery’s garden area.

They then allegedly ran around, used the children’s slide and threw toys at the windows and doors which a spokesperson said “caused extensive damage and disturbance”.

They added: “Hayley also found children’s trikes and toys strewn across the garden, the sand pit trampled and the outdoor easels tipped over.

“The worst aspect was that the boys opened the chicken coop and let the chickens out.

“They even appeared to kick one of the chickens.

“The children had nurtured the chickens from little chicks and loved them very much.

“Sadly, three were found dead in the garden and two are still missing, presumed dead also.”

Hayley, manager of the nursery, said: “As you can imagine, our nursery children, families and staff team are very upset about what has happened, the loss of their five chickens and the lack of respect that these youths have shown towards our property and our children’s play area.

“Children have of course been asking the staff team about what’s happened to the chickens and we are giving them lots of reassurance and suitable age-appropriate explanations.”

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “Kent Police is investigating a report of an attempted burglary at a nursery school in Rochester Road, Gravesend at around 10pm on Thursday 24 August 2023.

“Officers are also completing enquiries into damage that was caused at the same premises shortly after 11pm on Tuesday 29 August.

“There have been no arrests at this stage and anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call Kent Police on 01474 366149, quoting reference number 46/153139/23.”