YOUNGSTERS has been left devastated after burglars stole laptops, MacBooks, and gaming consoles.

The Westhoughton Kids Club, in Dams Head Fold, was broken into on Tuesday night and charity money was also taken.

Burglars ransacked both floors of the club and a television was left on the floor, presumably, say the club, because it was too heavy to steal.

CCTV footage from the club shows two men in trainers and caps.

Janet Hardstaff, deputy manager at the club, said: “We are a children’s setting, for goodness sake, and they stole charity money.

“We are gutted because they took gaming consoles which the kids like playing on, and iPads they use.

“To come in the morning and find things stolen and mess everywhere, it’s horrible."

Mrs Hardstaff arrived at the nursery at 7am on Wednesday and discovered the burglary, with children arriving at 7.30am.

She said: “My first thought was that I didn’t leave such a mess the night before, but then my daughter told me the side doors were open, so I knew then that we had been burgled."

A crowbar was left at the scene, which it is believed the burglars used to break in after getting over a fence.

Mrs Hardstaff said: “The girls and the kids were coming in so we still had to be ready for them because something like this can upset young children, so we kept it away from them and carried on with the day.”

Police say they were notified of the burglary, which they believe happened between 10.40pm and 10.57pm on Tuesday.

PC Miles Wold, of GMP’s Bolton district, said: “We are reviewing CCTV and appealing to anyone in the area at the time who may have seen anything suspicious to contact police by emailing 18340@gmp.police.uk, quoting incident 599 of 22/09/2021.”

Mrs Hardstaff added: “You can’t see their faces because they’re wearing masks but hopefully someone will recognise their clothing.

“We have CCTV all throughout this building and it’s just sad that anyone would do this to a children’s centre."

On the day the burglary was discovered the club took the children to the park so they wouldn’t notice what had happened.

“Most of them haven’t asked,” said Mrs Hardstaff

The centre is looking to slowly replace all the stolen items, which they say will not be possible overnight.

Anyone with information can report it online or by using the Live Chat function at www.gmp.police.uk.

If people cannot report online, they can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.