A COMMUNITY nursery has been left devastated after its 'lifeline' minibus was trashed by yobs.

Vandals wrecked the vehicle at the weekend, leaving staff and children at Keighley Community Nursery heartbroken.

The 17-seater Peugeot was used to take youngsters on trips out, plus it collected pupils daily from primary schools for an after-school club at the Braithwaite Grove centre.

But the vehicle was so extensively damaged, it's likely to be out of action for weeks.

And although the minibus was insured, the nursery – a not-for-profit organisation – says not all repair costs will be covered and it will lose money through cancelled bookings.

A planned leavers' trip to Thornton Hall Farm in North Yorkshire later this month, for youngsters moving on to full-time education, is among events which will have to be scrapped.

"It's just so heartbreaking and soul destroying," said the nursery manager, Naomi Dent.

"We've had a few incidents of vandalism in recent weeks but the extent of the damage caused over the weekend is just sickening.

"The minibus was so badly damaged it's not even drivable.

"We've had the vehicle for about five years and it's a real lifeline for us."

The louts struck first on Saturday, smashing the minibus windows.

And the following day, the inside of the vehicle was wrecked.

"They even released the handbrake but fortunately the minibus couldn't move far – if it had rolled down the street who knows what might have happened," said Naomi.

"We are a charity doing everything we can to help the community and this is how we are repaid.

"I know there have been other incidents of vandalism in the area too. It can't go on like this.

"We contacted the police immediately about the damage. We need people to stand-up and report things and help stop this kind of thing."

The nursery, which has 130 children aged between three months and five years on its roll, has set-up an online fundraising page to help off-set the costs of the damage.

Visit gofundme.com/f/minibus-repair-and-leavers-celebration?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1.

West Yorkshire Police confirm that they are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of what was believed to be an attempted theft of a minibus in Braithwaite Grove, Keighley, on Sunday.

"Officers attended and found the minibus with damage to the windscreen, windows and interior of the vehicle.

"Enquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone with information that may assist is asked to contact 101, quoting crime reference 13210335049."