Tick Tocks Nursery on the Millwey Industrial Estate in Axminster was broken into overnight on Monday.

The children's nursery on Weycroft Avenue was targeted sometime overnight between Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10.

Entry was forced causing damage to the premises and it is understood other buildings on the industrial estate were also targeted.

Tick Tocks have reported that money from a recent fundraiser to purchase recourses for the children was stolen.

Alison Coleman of Tick Tocks said: "As a nursery suffering financially from COVID-19 the staff had organised a fundraiser for the children for resources needed and this was stolen.

"The owners of the nursery have been impacted greatly financially and had to make the difficult decision to make a few staff redundant. With very little financial support from government, this has been a testing time.

"It's had an impact on the parents and children as we had to close the nursery for two days for a mass clean up of broken glass, etc. Most of our parents are working parents so it's been difficult for all involved."

Staff at Tick Tocks have now launched an online crowdfunding appeal with the aim of raising £1,000 to cover the costs of the resources needed and to make the children's Christmas "more magical than ever".

You can support the fundraising campaign by clicking here.

Anyone with any information on the break-in - for example noticed suspicious activity or vehicles in the area in the days prior - or anyone with relevant CCTV is asked to contact police on 101 or by emailing [email protected] quoting crime reference, CR/094873/20.