Yobs ransacked a pre-school, forcing it to close on only the second day of term.

Playtime Under 5’s had been due to hold its second introduction day for new pupils yesterday.

But staff told parents to keep their children at home after raiders broke in to the building in Saxon Road, Hove.

The thieves smashed a ground floor window and escaped with a laptop, toys, games and food.

Maureen Crookes, who has run the school since 1987, said she was shocked by the level of damage.

She said: “I feel very angry, obviously upset and very shocked. I came in and it had been ransacked.

“A laptop has been taken and lots of children's games and other new things I had brought in that's gone.

“The kitchen cupboards have been emptied. It's just ridiculous.”

Two dozen children had been due to start at the pre-school this week.

Mrs Crookes, who lives nearby, discovered she had been burgled after her deputy Sue Padden noticed the damage whilst walking her dog yesterday morning.

Mrs Crookes said: “The thieves just took silly little things like presents we had from parents and things we had left over from a party.

“It was obviously just things they could carry. It is a lovely area to be in. This is just so unfortunate.”

It is the second time yobs have broken into the property in less than two years.

Raiders made off with petty cash from cupboards after breaking in last year.

Despite the scale of the damage and the number of items stolen Mrs Crookes said she was determined to reopen on Monday She said: “I might have to do a quick shop over the weekend to replace things but we will definitely be open on Monday even if I have to stay here until midnight."