YOUNGSTERS have been left bitterly disappointed after burglars stole play equipment from their pre-school.

A shed at the Prince of Wales Pre-school in Dorchester, which has 40 children on its register, was broken into and thieves stole three tri-cycles and a toy motorbike.

The burglars unscrewed a lock on the shed to get in and steal the equipment, which is worth about £200, and took the school months to fundraise for.

Play leader Amanda Godfrey said: "They couldn't have been more cruel.

"Those bikes were so well used - every day that it wasn't either raining or freezing the children would be out playing on them.

"This leaves quite a gap in our play equipment.

"Every weekend it seems people get in here and roller blade off the playhouse, but this is the first time anything's been stolen in the six years that we've been here - it's horrible."

Two of the cycles were unusual red and black Winther bikes that are only sold by mail order and would not be found in the shops. The motorbike was a Fisher Price model. All the bikes were kept in a shed at the school in Maiden Castle Road.

The pre-school's treasurer is searching through the paperwork, trying to find out if the play equipment was insured. If it is not, Amanda says she will have to put other fundraising projects on hold in order to replace the bikes.

She said: "You can only do a cake sale so often, and we weren't planning to run any fundraising events until the spring.

"We're always saving for something - we'll just have to put off any fundraising for new things until we've replaced the bikes because they were so popular."

Sergeant Mick Grant, of Dorchester Police, is appealing for anyone who knows anything about the burglary, which is thought to have happened during the Christmas and new year holiday, to get in touch by calling (01305) 251212.