A pre-school owner whose charity collection for a child with cancer was stolen has said the raid was “absolutely devastating”.

Catherine Kemp runs the Coopersale Pre-School in Institute Hall, Epping, which was targeted by burglars between 5pm on Monday (February 1) and the following morning.

A camera of great sentimental value to Ms Kemp – and filled with pictures of the pre-school children – was stolen alongside the £150 charity collection.

Donated by parents of children at the pre-school, the money was being raised for Hope, an 11-year-old girl with an inoperable brain tumour.

Information about the collection was contained with the money, said Ms Kemp, so the thieves know where it was going.

She said: “They took the camera, the chargers, everything that belonged to the babies, all the children’s food, all the activities stuff, all the booking stuff, they took absolutely everything.

“They broke the children’s toys in the garden area, smashed them up.”

The destructive burglars entered the building in Institute Road after removing a recently-installed side window.

As well as destroying the toys and stealing the money and items, the thieves ate the children’s snacks before leaving.

Ms Kemp said: “It is horrendous, absolutely devastating.

“I have been here 23 years and never had a break-in.

“It is a bit scary, daunting thinking they could come back - everything goes through your mind.”

She added: “The most heart-breaking part is what they have done to the children.”

Ms Kemp said the charity money could be replaced, but the camera – given to her by her father before he died from cancer – was irreplaceable.

She said: “I need to get that camera back because it has got sentimental value and all the kids from the pre-school are on there.

“I am so worried about it, I just cannot believe that anybody would take that.

“Everything else is replaceable.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Police have received a report of a burglary at Institute Hall, Institute Road, Epping.

“Thieves broke into the hall by removing a side window sometime between 5pm Monday February 1 and the following morning.

“Property including a charity collection and a camera was stolen.”

Anyone with information about the theft should contact police in Epping on 101.

To donate money to a fundraiser set up after the break-in, visit: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/tracie.