A PRE-SCHOOL is appealing for help to raise £9,000 after vandals used its storage hut as a toilet.

The hut which belongs to St. Mary’s Under 5’s Pre School in Hayes Road, Stone, had been used to store all the charity’s toys, games and books.

But now it needs to raise the cash to replace all its equipment after vandals smashed and soiled everything. Blood was also found in the shed along with empty alcohol bottles and cigarette ends.

Manager of the pre-school Lisa Prince said: “I personally found it very upsetting because we are a charity run pre-school and all the equipment was bought from fundraising.

“The whole pre-school was in that shed.”

Around 200 toys and games were ruined on January 2, along with more than 250 books, which Mrs Prince said were mostly new.

The 36-year-old added: “I think everyone is very angry.

“We are a small community everyone is close. They may have brothers or sisters at the pre-school or even came here themselves but they still went ahead and did what they did.”

Paul Cutler’s three-year-old daughter Annabelle, attends the pre-school, he said: “I have to say I think it is the worst thing because they knew it was children's toys in there.

The 47-year-old added: "I think it is the lowest of the low".

Mrs Prince said because of the nature of the incident the charity is only covered by the insurance company for 10 per cent of the damage.

Letters have been written to various companies requesting donations but the charity has yet to receive any replies.

Mrs Prince added: “It is the educational stuff which we really lost. I just can’t believe they did that.”

The pre-school has been around for 30 years and currently looks after 72 children between two and a half and four years old.

Mrs Prince said police have taken DNA which was found in the shed and she has been told it will take around six to eight weeks for the results.

If you can help the pre-school in anyway call the newsroom on 01689 885703 For more north Kent stories visit newsshopper.co.uk/northkent