VANDALS painted swear words and obscene images on children's artwork during a wrecking spree at a nursery.

Workers from the nursery, in the Louisa Centre, in Stanley, County Durham, gave up their Sunday to clear up the damage to ensure the facility was able to open for children this morning.

Nothing, apart from £5 in tea money, was taken but about £2,000 worth of damage was caused to a computer, television, video player and carpets.

The vandals, thought to be teenagers, got into the nursery on Saturday from a building site at the rear of the sports centre, which is being extended to incorporate a swimming pool.

The centre was open and staff were alerted to the break-in after water went through the reception area ceiling because sinks in the upstairs nursery had been blocked and taps turned on.

Centre manager Norman Robinson said: "They have gone haywire and ruined toddlers' pictures. The graffiti is about as obscene as you can imagine and the mess is terrible.

"The kiddies will come in looking for their pictures. For some, it will be their first artwork and they were proud of it, and it will not be there.''

The vandals threw paint, glitter and glue around, daubing it over the electronic equipment, and blocked toilets with nappies.

Mr Robinson said: "You can wrack your brains as to the logic of it. The staff have given up their Sunday to ensure that at 7.45am on Monday, the nursery is open.

"The nursery has 20 places and is an all-day nursery used by working parents who rely on it.''

Sergeant Mick Dunn, of Stanley police, said: "They have just got paint and threw it all over the computer and have put obscene drawings on the wall. I found it upsetting.

"There was a name sprayed on the wall - Aaron. Whether that is of any relevance, I do not know.

"You can maybe understand someone stealing a computer, but when they just go in and smash the place up, it beggars belief.

"The people responsible would have been covered in glue, glitter and possibly paint.''

He added that a hat found at the scene was being investigated for forensic evidence.

Sgt Dunn has asked that anyone with information about the attack, which happened between 11.30am and 2.30pm, contact Stanley police station on (01207) 232144.

You can also call Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111.