Charity workers at a Saffron Walden nursery are devastated after being burgled last week (October 14) for the third time in around a year.

Around £200 worth of gardening equipment was taken from The Saffron Walden Nursery School in the Shire Hill Industrial Estate between 4pm on Thursday, October 13 and 7.45am on Friday, October 14.

Stolen items included a lawnmower, a hosepipe, some spades, trowels, and childrens’ toys.

Staff members came into work at around 8am the following morning to find that bolt cutters had been used to split the shed padlock, where the tools were kept.

All these will have to be replaced, and although the nursery does have insurance, an excess will have to be paid.

Police are investigating and neighbouring businesses are lending any CCTV footage that might help the investigation.

To prevent a fourth repeat, the charity would now like to get their own CCTV installed, but they will have to apply for a grant and fund raise to collect enough money to pay for the expensive wireless cameras, which will cost around £300.

In September last year, the first time the nursery was targeted, large, decorative wooden planters that were outside the front doors were taken away in a car.

Only six months later, in May this year, the building was struck again, but this time the shed door was smashed and garden tools were taken, including a lawnmower.

The thieves responsible for these crimes were never caught, and Lesli Goddard, 46, bursar and parent at the nursery, said that she couldn’t understand why anyone would target a charity.

She said: “Thank goodness they only got into the garden. We are devastated because this is the third time this has happened.

“We are just sad that people think it’s okay to do this when we are a charity. Why would people take things from a charity? Why us?”

Police have asked anyone with information to call 101.