Vandals destroyed £2,500 of toys in an arson attack on a pre-school playgroup.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at Ring O'Roses storage shed, at the back of the Royal Naval Association building, in East Street, Prittlewell.

It took two hours to put out the fire but the shed and its contents, which included bikes, Wendy houses and dolls, were destroyed. The neighbouring shed, owned by the naval association, was also damaged.

The under-fives from the playgroup were left with only a handful of toys which had been inside the main building overnight. Christmas decorations which were due to be put up were destroyed.

Ann Rogers, deputy supervisor at Ring O'Roses, said: "We are so angry that people can do this. There was nothing in our shed worth taking.

"Everybody, especially our 40 children, have been upset by this."

Anyone with any information about the incident can contact Southend police on 01702 431212.

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