CHILDREN at a nursery school were left without their daily milk cartons after a 40-pint palette was stolen in an extraordinary early morning raid.

CHILDREN at a nursery school were left without their daily milk cartons after a 40-pint palette was stolen in an extraordinary early morning raid.

The government still provides milk for young children every day, and it is a well-known fact that a glass a day helps them grow healthy and strong.

But quite why two callous thieves plundered the Just Leaning Nursery in Kestrel Drive, Stowmarket just after 4am last week, leaving with the milk in their 4x4, is more mysterious.

Nursery Manager Karen Abram said: “What would you do with 40 pints of milk? I was very surprised, and it has never happened before.

“It did not make a difference to the children's day - they didn't really notice - but it is very important for nutritional reasons and it is part of their daily menu.”

The incident occurred on Monday, January 5, the first day back after the Christmas holiday, and the nursery naturally assumed the supplier had failed to make their delivery.

They contacted Dairy Crest, who assured them it had been delivered, and then checked their CCTV which showed both the delivery and the subsequent theft unfold.

Mrs Abram said: “We had to speak to Dairy Crest and apologise because they had delivered it after all.

“On the film you can see the passenger gets out, walks round the side, puts the milk in the boot and gets back in the car.

“Now we have the milk left in a different place, and we have changed our delivery time. It was so early in the morning, but now it is delivered after we have arrived.”

The nursery told the police about the incident and have handed over the footage, hoping that their technology will mean they can identify the man who got out of the car.

Anyone with any information should contact Pc Oliver Walker at Stowmarket Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.