MORE than 100 playgroup children could be left in limbo when the new term begins on Monday after an arson attack damaged the hall in which the playgroup meets.

Police have appealed for information from witnesses after the incident at the Murston Welfare Hall in Church Road, Murston, near Sittingbourne.

The hall, a timber building, suffered smoke and water damage and is awaiting assessment from insurers before being given the all clear to be used again. Carol Bolden, operator of the Murston Playgroup, condemned the perpetrators of the arson attack.

She said: "Whoever did this is hurting the community because it is a community building and now it is unusable."

The Murston Playgroup runs eight classes a week for toddlers and pre-school children and has more than 100 different children using its facility.

The arson attack happened on the evening of Saturday, December 28, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. More than £500 worth of damage was caused to a wall and the roof after paper and cardboard was piled up against a wooden outer wall and set alight.

The playgroup was due to restart on Monday January 6 but may now have to look for temporary accommodation.

Mrs Bolden said: "If we don't get the go-ahead for Monday then we will have to go knocking on doors to try to find somewhere else to rent in the interim."