Heacham toddlers hit by vandals
A DISTRAUGHT toddlers' group has been rocked by vandals who destroyed a selection of play equipment worth hundreds of pounds in a half-term attack in Heacham.
Volunteers at Scallywags toddlers' group made the sickening discovery on Tuesday when they arrived at their home at the village scout hut to find swings, a play slide, picnic benches and a new play house had all been damaged.
The group was then dealt a further blow when it was told the cost of the damage would not be covered by its insurance company as the equipment had been stored outside, rather than locked indoors.
Volunteer Tracey Mellor was one of the first people to discover the trail of destruction and told the Lynn News: "I felt like I wanted to cry.
"The play slide was in the front car park and had been completely squashed, there was lots of broken plastic. The play house, which was new this summer, was also broken and had the doors ripped off.
"They have sat on the swings and broken all the connections to the frame. Something like that costs 400.
"All the money we had for this equipment came through fundraising and it is very annoying that something like this can happen.
"The children all wanted to go outside and play but we have had to explain what has happened to them. They are very disappointed."
In relation to the insurance issue, Mrs Mellor said: "That is quite a blow as we thought we would be covered. I am not sure how you get a play house and slide in a secure shed. We have now got to start again with fundraising."
Mrs Mellor said the group, which attracts between 15 and 20 youngsters each week, has two storage sheds for play equipment but the bigger items have to be left outside as they are too big to store indoors.
A spokesman for Norfolk Police said the damage occurred between Friday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 30. Anyone with information should contact PC Kim Selvarajah on 0845 456 4567 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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