VANDALS have damaged play equipment and a shed at Chiddingfold Village Nursery School.

But thanks to an incredible response by the public, the nursery has more than tripled its fundraising target to replace the equipment in just one week.

The nursery team arrived to set up for the new term on Tuesday, September 3, to find the “outside play equipment had been vandalised and their shed had been broken into and damaged”, according to a GoFundMe page.

Despite the page only being active for a week, donations have smashed the initial target of £350, so far raising a total of £1,155.

Debbie Wallbank, early years professional and nursery manager, has thanked donors.

She said: “We offer our heartfelt thanks to the community of Chiddingfold for their generosity and compassion following the vandalism of nursery equipment last week.

“We are a charity and work hard to raise funds to enable us to deliver high quality early years education.

“When an unforeseen incident happens such as the vandalism of our toys and equipment, it becomes such a worry as to how we can replace or repair things.

“The amount that has been raised from the funding page and from Chiddingfold Village Bonfire Committee will enable us to replace the shed and ‘mud kitchen’, as well as replace the garden toys that were broken.

“Thank you so much

everyone.”

Anybody wishing to make a donation to the nursery should go to gofundme.com/f/help-our-village-nursery