An arsonist who started a blaze at a Great Baddow nursery school in the early hours of Tuesday caused damage estimated at about £4,000.
Two large wooden play houses, their contents and a maypole were wrecked at the 120-pupil Woodcroft Nursery School in the grounds of Lark Rise School, Dorset Avenue.
Head teacher Mrs Annie Tann said: "We feel vulnerable and sad. It is lucky no one was injured. "We have been building up a little village round our maypole."
The arsonist cut through a wire fence to reach the school's back garden around 2.30 am.
"We have no idea who would want to do this," said Mrs Tann. The playhouses, each about 5ft by 4ft, were used for role play. It is expected that the school will have to fund-raise, because insurance does not cover the full loss.
The school has eight full-time and seven part-time staff, with children aged from three to five.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police on Chelmsford 491212 Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article