ARSONISTS destroyed more than £3,000 worth of children's toys belonging to a Swindon playgroup.

The mangled mess of charred plastic pictured here is all that remains of St Mary's Playgroup storage shed.

Bikes, climbing frames, balls, scooters and safety mats were all destroyed in the blaze, which also burned the corner of a mobile classroom which was just feet away.

It means the playgroup, in Bessemer Road, will not open as planned on Tuesday, January 8 after the Christmas break.

Staff are notifying the parents of the school's 54 pupils aged three and four. Six three-year-olds who were looking forward to their first day will now have to register elsewhere.

Playgroup administrator Cherry Hrynkiewicz said: "I am devastated. We are a charity and most of these toys were new."

"We are insured and waiting for the loss adjusters, but we are talking about time and effort here too."

Mrs Hrynkiewicz does not expect the school to open before half term.

The fire is thought to have been started by a youth. Neighbours saw smoke pluming from the shed and called 999.

Two fire engines arrived at 2.50pm on Saturday and battled for 40 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

The headmaster of neighbouring St Mary's Primary School, Paul Winfield was then called to the site.

The wooden shed, which was 10ft by 8ft, had been destroyed. One toy, a wooden Thomas the tank Engine train, had been made by a resident for his children and then donated to the playgroup when they grew out of it.

Anyone with information should call police on Swindon 528111.