A CHARITY pre-school has been left devastated after a suspected arson attack destroyed dozens of children's toys.

Staff at the Jack and Jill Pre-school, run from West Bicester Community Centre, say they have been left shocked by the "significant damage" caused by flames ripping through its outside storage area.

But the community have stepped up its efforts to help replace the toys by offering up donations just hours after the destruction.

The blaze, which fire services believe was started deliberately, shortly after 11pm on Tuesday night and took hold outside of the Shakespeare Drive building before spreading to the back rooms.

Pre-school manager Rebecca Barker said: "We are just so devastated, it is really sad. We are just a charity pre-school and now all the children's toys have been destroyed.

"I was called by a friend about 11.15pm who said the building was on fire. When I got down the fire brigade and police were there and the flames were out.

"All the sheds outside had disintegrated and all the children's toys melted, plus the equipment and the whole in the roof as well.

"It was gutting to see, we are all just in disbelief really.

"We haven’t asked for donations but we have had quite a few people offering to donate toys.

"Anything would be lovely if people want to help out."

The fire ripped through toys, soft play equipment and tables and chairs which were stored away for the holidays before spreading through into the building.

Fire crews from Bicester and Oxford managed to stop the fire spreading further by removing part of the roof but the smoke and water has also caused damage inside.

Ms Barker said: "We think it is all going to have to be replaced.

"It will be a long process of fixing and restocking. It is difficult without knowing what caused it but you don't expect something like this to happen.

"Whether it was kids mucking about or not, it has caused significant damage to lots of people."

Community centre administrator Karen Stowell added: "We have had to cancel all the hall users such as exercise groups that use it because of the damage, it smells very badly of smoke.

"The fire service have had to nail shut the fire exit as well so we can't use the hall now.

"Obviously we are now loosing revenue, it is just so sad."

As the cause of the fire is believed to be suspicious Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue have handed over the investigation to police.

The Shakespeare Pub owner Paul Coombs, which neighbours the community centre, said: "I was locking up when I saw the flames, the whole storage area was ablaze.

"I ran in to get the phone but the fire service were here by the time I got out.

"It is just scary really."

Insurance claims have been put in for the damage and the centre hopes to open back up as soon as possible, with the preschool ready for the new term on September 5.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0800 555 111.