Break-ins at schools and pre-schools have left a trail of destruction and caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Thieves have forced their way into an infant and primary school and a nursery, stealing cash and vandalising property, during the last month.

One of the worst incidents was at Meadows Pre-School in Rochester where vandals daubed swear words on walls, doors and the floor.

They also set fire to clothes in the toddlers’ dressing up box between June 29 and 30.

Just over a week before, yobs broke into the pre-school in Albert Road and stole cash saved up for outings.

Manager Bev Pritchard said: “It’s heartbreaking, but we are not going to let them get the better of us.

Mrs Pritchard said the wrecking spree was discovered by somebody who was holding a party at the hall.

She said : “As soon as the word got around everyone pulled together, Parents and staff spent the day and the Monday cleaning the place up to get it ready for the children.

“They totally defaced a carpet we had saved up for. We are lucky the whole place did not go up in smoke, It’s a nice community school and the community rallied round.”

Police have estimated the damage at about £4,000.

Chairman of the governors and parent Tony Scudder, said “We are not a profit-making organisation. We are a charity and we don’t have that sort of money.

"We could have just about opened on the Monday but we were determined to finish off the last bits so the children would not have been affected.”

Play equipment was damaged when nearby Delce Infant School was targeted on June 13.

A Wendy house, a favourite haunt for youngsters at the school in Fleet Road, was smashed and thieves made off with a wicker wigwam.

Head teacher Donna Atkinson said: “We value our place in the community and the sad thing is we believe it is local children who are doing this.

“We shall try to step up security. The answer is CCTV but it is expensive.”

At New Road Primary in Chatham cash meant for treats on pupils’ outing was snatched after intruders smashed their way in with a garden fork on June 24.

The damage could have been worse if a caretaker and police had not disturbed them after an alarm went off at the school in Bryant Street.

Head teacher Elizabeth Caldwell said; “The police arrived on the scene very quickly and the damage to the library door was minimal and quickly repaired.”

Back in May, thieves broke into a shed at the ABC nursery in Borstal and stole toys including a slide which was bought by volunteers from Kent Industrial Training Services which offers community work to the long-term unemployed.

Mick Harris from the nursery in Mercury Close, which was set up to support single mums, said: “This is a deprived area and this place is an oasis for these children. The toys would have no value to them, but mean everything to the children.”