Nursery staff are appealing for help finding the burglars who stole £600 and forced the cancellation of a Halloween treat for the Trowbridge centre’s children.

Heather Wood, manager of Green Shoots Nursery, in Studley Green, arrived at work at 7.30am last Friday to discover her office had been broken into and the cash taken.

Half the money was admission fees and petty cash, while the remaining £300 was raised by the nursery to hold a Halloween party for their 100 children at the end of the month, and also a Christmas party.

Ms Wood said: “This was money for the children and their parties, with the most upsetting part of all this being that they’ve lost them now.”

“We’d appeal for anyone that has any information to please come forward, as we’d really like to get the money back. For someone to do this is despicably low.”

Some parents have offered to raise new funds for the children’s parties, but nursery co-ordinator Julia Honeywell said: “We are touched that they’ve offered to help us, but they shouldn’t need to.

“We are just gutted by what has happened, as it would appear the people that carried out this crime knew exactly what they were looking for.”

Parents have previously helped raise funds for children’s play areas, including a builder’s yard and a mud kitchen.

Thieves got into the office by removing a window pane, and Wiltshire Police is now checking CCTV footage at the neighbouring Studley Green Primary School.

PC Jade Coupland said: “This type of offence has a negative impact on everyone involved from the staff, the children and the community the nursery serves.

“As the officer for this area I know the level of hard work and commitment that the staff there dedicate to supporting our children and our communities.”

Anyone with information can call police on the 101 number.