DIY store helps Mawnan Pre-school after vandals strike (From Falmouth Packet)

DIY store helps Mawnan Pre-school after vandals strike

7:20am Monday 25th June 2012 in News By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

Handy helpers from two DIY stores have come to the aid of a Mawnan Pre-School after it was attacked by vandals last month.

The pre-school was the scene of a night-time raid three weeks ago, when heartless hoodlums ripped plants from flower beds and smashed up the children’s toys and equipment, which were being kept outside.

Now, the staff from B&Q Camborne have joined forces with the store in Penryn to provide the pre-school with some new equipment to get them back on their feet.

Rob Butland, from the Camborne branch, said: “They have had a bit of a time of it, bless them.

“My wife saw it in the paper about two weeks ago that someone had broken in and vandalised all their toys, so it got me thinking about what we could do.

“They don’t deserve what’s happened to them, so I had a word with Jane, our community co-ordinator, and we agreed that we could come down and help,” he added.

All in all, the two stores have provided two new picnic benches, water and sand tables as well as buckets, spades and lots of other outdoor equipment.

The children, who were thrilled with their new toys in particular, have been busy working on thank you cards to send to B&Q as well as to all those who have helped the school.

Liz Shaw, centre manager, said: “We are totally overwhelmed. People have been so kind – really, really generous.

“We have had gifts from people who used to be in the pre-school and are now in their 20’s, bringing plants and things.

“It’s brought the village together completely because I think what the vandals didn’t realise is that it did affect the whole village as everybody has worked really hard to get this place running.

“The new building has only been open a year and it took 20 years to get up and running,” she added.