A Deal mum says she is heartbroken after toys her children had saved their pocket money to buy were destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Shelly Ransom, of Hamilton Road, was out at a friend’s house while her sons, Billy, nine, and Jordan, seven, were staying with their dad, when the incident unfolded on Friday.

At about 11pm, she received calls from four of her neighbours informing her her shed was alight.

Four women from Deal were later arrested and police are continuing to investigate.

Ms Ransom said: “It breaks my heart to know how upset my boys are that all their toys including bikes and scooters are in ashes, some of which they saved their pocket money for months to be able to buy.

“But we are lucky that we are to all okay and the love and support we give each other is most important.”

The contents of the shed are estimated to have been worth more than £1,000.

Not only did it hold children’s games, there was also a swimming pool and playhouse inside.

Ms Ransom had also hidden some of her sons’ Christmas presents in there.

She says she couldn’t face telling her children the truth, instead telling them the fire was the result of somebody setting off fireworks, and explained the dangers of playing with fire.

She said: “I couldn’t tell them the truth as I wouldn’t want to put any fear into them. They are devastated but they are both pleased it didn’t reach our house.”

The 31-year-old says she is disgusted by the actions and described it as a "vile attack".

She thanked her family, friends and strangers on social media for their kind messages and support.

Police say they received a report of a shed on fire in Hamilton Road, Deal just after 11pm on Friday.

Four women from Deal were arrested shortly afterwards.

A 44-year-old woman and a 56-year-old woman have been bailed until December 7.

A 43-year-old woman has been bailed until December 9 and a 36-year-old woman has been bailed until December 12.