THE repair bill for a Daubhill nursery which was attacked by arsonists will be several thousand pounds.

Staff at Little Darlings, which is in the basement of Sunninghill Primary School, Goldsmith Street, are devastated following the attack which destroyed a classroom.

Youths are believed to be responsible for pushing a firework through the window on Saturday evening which set the wooden window ledge alight before flames spread into the playroom and destroyed toys and equipment as well as filling the nursery with thick smoke.

It is also believed that a gang armed with fireworks had tried to set fires at the deputy head's office and two toilet blocks at the primary school.

The school is loaning a classroom to the nursery, which hosts two sessions per day for 25 children aged from two and a half-five, until their playroom is repaired.

But the staff and youngsters are especially upset as so many paintings and toys of sentimental value were destroyed in the blaze.

The majority of the playroom's contents, which included the dressing-up corner, reading area and building toys, have had to be thrown out.

Manageress of the private nursery, which opened five years ago, Karen Burke, said: "I am absolutely devastated that anyone would do this.

"All the parents and children have been really shocked and upset to see the place in such a state.

"Everything is filthy and smelly from the smoke.

"I think fireworks should be banned other than for organised displays because they're dangerous."

Police are investigating the attack and Mrs Burke is now waiting for insurance assessors to visit the nursery.

Anyone with information on the attack should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.