Shawbirch Under-Fives Pre-school in Telford falls victim to fire

A Shropshire pre-school lost 15,000 of stock after the shed where it was stored was set on fire. Shawbirch Under-Fives Pre-school in Telford fell victim to the fire at the end of last month after a wheely bin was deliberately set alight by a gang of youths who pushed it against the shed, causing it to go up in flames. The pre-school, which has been located in Shawbirch Community Centre for the past 14 years, used the shed for storing everything apart from tables and chairs. Toys, books, games, stationery, and staff planning and activity books were all lost in the blaze, which forced the pre-school to close for three days. Pre-school head Rachael Thomas said, 'The children have coped extremely well and have been sorting out their rooms and bringing in toys to help.' Donations have been flooding in to the 54-place setting from parents, children and local businesses, but with no storage facilities available, the pre-school's staff are having to take the items back and forth from the community centre to their homes every day.