Vandals who broke into and flooded a pre-school caused £600 damage and ruined three children's birthdays.

The thieves also ruined at least the next few weeks of school for the children, who will have to miss out on their pre-school morning sessions.

The vandals broke into the Clifton Street Pre-School yesterday afternoon, smashed children's toys and stole a mobile phone and the pre- school's petty cash.

The worst damage occurred when they blocked up two sinks and flooded the main hall, leaving it covered in three inches of water.

The water has caused extensive damage to the wooden floor, which is now unfit to walk on.

Play leader Anita Ellis, who helped to set up the pre-school four-and-a-half years ago, said the children and staff are devastated.

She said: "We are all very angry, but more upset than anything else. How anyone could have done this, we just don't understand.

"Three children were having birthdays today and we had planned to have a cake and a small celebration for them.

"Now we have had to turn them away."

Twenty-seven children attend the pre-school five morning sessions a week. There is also a twice-weekly session for toddlers.

Mrs Ellis said: "I don't think the people who did this realise the far-reaching effect it has had."

As well as ruining pre-school for the youngsters, the vandals have wrecked plans for a Halloween party and have also jeopardised plans for events over Christmas, some of which were being held to raise much- needed funds.

The pre-school is run by four members of staff, who are paid with the money which comes in through fees.

At the end of each week, any money which is left over is spent on equipment.

The thieves also took around £65 of petty cash which was left over from last week money which was going to be used to buy equipment.

Mrs Ellis said: "We are a real community type of school. Everyone gets involved in running the school and organising trips.

"Last night, when we found out about the damage, we had to ring all the parents and tell them they couldn't bring their children in today.

"If they had just stolen the money and our phone, it would not have been so bad. But why did they have to flood the floor as well? If they hadn't done that, at least the children would have been able to come into school."

LEA spokesman Andrew Bennett said that the damage had been assessed by the council and that the school is not yet safe for the children.

Mr Bennett said: "Some parts of the floor were lifted by the water and some of the floorboards have been lifted up to allow them to dry out.

"The school will be closed this week and the week after is half-term.

"After that it is a case of waiting until the floor has dried sufficiently for it to be assessed and to see if it can be repaired or not."

Arsonists have caused more than £15,000 worth of damage in the latest attack on a Highworth playpark.

A circular slide in Barra Close was burned so badly that it had to be demolished, leaving Highworth town council to pick up the bill.

Town clerk David Lane said that since the park opened 15 years ago thousands of pounds of tax-payers' money had already been wasted on cleaning up after vandals.

"It seems that setting fire to things is a local sport down there," he said. "But most of our problems are anti-social behaviour, broken bottles and obscene graffiti.

"Every Monday we have to send two of our workers there to pick up glass and clean up, which takes them away from other jobs."

Vandals have been causing problems in the area for years and last weekend they destroyed a slide which will cost the town council £15,000 to replace.

The slide was insured but Mr Lane does not know whether the council will receive any money.

"It had a metal platform, a wooden tower and heavy duty plastic slide and I thought it was impossible to burn," said Mr Lane.

PC Simon Petty of Highworth Police thinks the slide was burned during Saturday night.

"There is trouble with youngsters hanging around the area and the field next to it. We have spoken to some of them and are monitoring the situation," he said. Anyone with information should phone Highworth police on 01793 762251.