GENEROUS businesses have rallied to help a cash-strapped toddler group which fell victim to vandals.

Stores at Lakeside Shopping Centre have sent dozens of new toys to Canewdon Parent and Toddler Group after its plight was featured in the Echo.

The group’s members were devastated when they discovered yobs had broken into their shed behind Canewdon Village Hall, Lambourne Hall Road, and destroyed their toy collection in March.

Kylie Minor, acting marketing manager for Lakeside, said: “We were genuinely saddened when we read about the mindless vandalism that resulted in such a big loss for this local toddler group.

“As part of our 21st birthday celebrations, we’re carrying out 21 good deeds in the local community and this cause seemed like a perfect fit.”

Vandals are believed to have broken into the shed sometime during the night of March 11 and taken the group’s toys.

They were later found broken and strewn around the village hall car park and Canewdon’s skatepark.

The shed had been built with money donated by HSBC bank, in memory of parent and group member Samantha Lee, 23, who was killed in a car crash in 2009.

However, the group did not have enough cash to build a concrete base for it, which meant many of the toys became damp when it rained.

In the wake of the raid, Chelmsford builder John Roberts offered to build a new base for free and well-wishers donated more than £160 to buy new toys.

Emma Gilbert, one of the volunteers who helps to run the group, said Lakeside’s decision to get involved had put the icing on the community’s efforts.

As well as donating toys from stores such as Hawkin’s Bazaar and The Entertainer, the shopping centre paid for a new shed.

Ms Gilbert said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of Lakeside.

“The new toys are hugely popular with the toddlers and we can only hope that the new shed will prevent anything like this from happening again.”