Children at a Bradford nursery were left heartbroken after burglars smashed their way into the building to steal 15 tricycles.

Staff and parents with youngsters at St Columba's Nursery in Tong Street, Bradford, were still reeling from the break-in when vandals targeted the building again, forcing it to close for part of this week.

Elaine Fairbank, early years co-ordinator at the nursery, today condemned those responsible for the incidents.

She said the expensive tricycles had been paid for through fundraising events supported by parents.

And she urged anyone who had spotted them in the area to contact the police.

"It's devastating. The parents have worked so hard to raise the money and we were all on a high after the work on the garden area," she said.

"If this has been done by people from the local area then they are stealing from their own families. Luckily, we have some lovely parents here and when something like this happens, you really see the best in these people."

The initial break-in happened over the Easter holiday period when burglars forced their way into an outbuilding and escaped with the popular tricycles, trailers, go-karts and other outdoor play equipment.

But the vandals struck again this week when they smashed most of the windows in the nursery building, and some of the main school, forcing the nursery to temporarily close.

"It was just a case of wanton vandalism where they have gone around and thrown stones at every window," she said. "They created a right mess and there was glass everywhere."

Anyone with information about either incident should contact Bradford police on (01274) 376659.