IPSWICH: Staff at a pre-school in Ipswich are today calling for witnesses to come forward after burglars broke in and stole equipment.

Play leader Vanessa Plampin arrived for work at St Mary’s Pre-School in Woodbridge Road yesterday morning as usual.

But as she walked around the church hall she realised something was not right.

“I walked in and just had a feeling something was up,” she said. “Often some of the children who go to Mass at the church on Sundays will try to play with the door handles but I realised the phone was gone, and then the CD player was missing and some of the cupboards had been forced.

“I didn’t touch anything and just called police straight away.”

Police officers are today investigating the break-in, which happened at some point between 4pm on Friday and 8am yesterday.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “Offenders forced their way into the church hall via fire exit doors and once inside forced open a locked cupboard. They have stolen a cordless phone and stereo.”

The building is shared with St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, and Mrs Plampin said some of the church’s property was also damaged.

“It is quite upsetting because the children have been affected,” she added. “We had to cancel them for the morning session but were able to open as usual in the afternoon.

“It is not nice but life goes on and we have to stay positive for the children, we just hope whoever is responsible is caught.”

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious is asked to call Pc Daniel Aston on 01473 613500.

n Have you been the victim of crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.