CHILDREN’S toys valued at around £1,400 have been stolen from a nursery in Winwick by heartless thieves.

Shocked staff at Winwick Pre-School Nursery have called on the public’s help to track down the callous culprits following the devastating discovery.

Supervisor Ann Iddon said: “We are only a small nursery school and these are major items for us.

“We have been open for around 30 years and this has never happened before.

“This will have an impact on the local children and it has shocked us that someone would do this.

“I’m at a loss as to how someone could be so cruel? It’s the children that they are depriving.”

Investigations are now ongoing after four bikes, three scooters and a trolley containing specially-cut mats were stolen from a garage at Winwick Leisure Centre on Myddleton Lane.

It is not known exactly when the items were taken as the storage garage had not been opened by staff in around three months.

But it is believed the toys and equipment were stolen between April 1 and June 30.

“We went in to get some toys and they were just gone. We hadn’t needed to go into the garage before then,” recalled Ann.

“The children do not deserve this. It has knocked the staff and they feel upset by what has happened.

“We are not even sure if we will be able to replace them. We have been speaking to the insurance company and it’s up in the air.”

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “We are asking members of the public to cast their minds back to sometime between April 1 and June 30..

“We urge anyone who spotted anyone acting suspiciously in the area during this time to come forward.”

Call Cheshire Police on 101 citing crime reference number 294 of July 1 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.