GENEROUS Ipswich Star readers have rallied round to help after children at a nursery were left saddened when their playhouse was stolen.

Julie Bullivant, director of services at the company which run Spitfires Nursery, told of her joy after kind-hearted Star readers came forward wanting to help replace a stolen children’s playhouse. Now, thanks to a business donation, the equipment is set to be replaced.

Police believe thieves pinched the item at some point between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on January 15 after a delivery driver left the £150 flat pack playhouse in a bin store next to the nursery in Hening Avenue in Ravenswood. The playhouse had been bought using money raised by staff and parents.

Since the news was revealed in The Star yesterday, a number of people have contacted staff at the nursery to offer a helping hand.

Ms Bullivant, of Alpha Nurseries, said she was “overwhelmed” by the response of the public.

Matt Becker, who runs local business Simply Cooling, came forward yesterday to pledge a donation of £125 to replace the stolen toy, while numerous readers have also enquired how they could help on the Star’s Facebook page.

“We just thought that by telling the public what had happened, they might be able to help find the people who have committed the crime,” she said. “We never thought we would get so many people coming forward offering to donate money so we can replace it.

“It has really brought a smile to everyone’s faces because all the staff were devastated when we discovered it had been stolen.

“The fact that people want to donate and help us is just amazing. It’s nice to know there are some really kind people out there.”

Mr Becker learnt of the theft after his friend Natasha Taylor issued a plea for help on a social networking site.

Miss Taylor, whose three-year-old son Corey attends Spitfires Nursery was heartbroken to hear of the crime and issued a clarion call for help in replacing the playhouse.

Mr Becker, 29, from Ipswich, said: “As soon as I heard what had happened I wanted to do something to help.

“I was shocked that someone could steal from a nursery. It is really disappointing to think that someone could do that.

“I have a son (two-year-old Deacon) and I just wanted to do something to help. I would like to think that others would do the same in a similar situation.”

A spokesman for Suffolk police said investigations into the crime were ongoing.

He urged anyone with information or any witnesses to the incident to call Pc Oliver Walker on 101.