Glasgow nursery children 'heartbroken' after old subway carriage vandalised again

A Glasgow nursery is appealing to vandals to stop targeting their premises after a subway carriage was spray painted for the third time and security cameras left damaged.

Ivy In The Park in Carntyne is trying to transform the underground train into a unique outdoor classroom but their plans keep getting ruined.

The vandals struck over the course of Saturday evening into Sunday – leaving the children and staff “heartbroken” again.

Operations director Annefrances McGrath said the incidents are “delaying” transformation work at the nursery.

She said: “We are trying to turn this into an outdoor learning classroom for the little ones. The children have been asking ‘ why is it broken’ and ‘why are they putting pictures on it.’”

She added: “They also sprayed the security camera lenses with green spay paint. Before they covered them with yellow gloves.”

Asking those responsible to leave the nursery alone, she said: “Please stop doing this. You are impacting on the children being able to use this space.”

The east end nursery took delivery of the car in November after the subway trains were replaced with modern stock.

In a statement shared on social media, the nursery asked the community to share any information on the culprits responsible for the graffiti and keep an eye out.

The statement said: “Despite our best efforts and the incredible support from our community in Carntyne, we are facing ongoing acts of mindless vandalism. Our children’s carriage, has been targeted again and again, defaced with spray paint, and left in a distressing state, continuously forcing our project backwards.

“Our security cameras have also been repeatedly damaged requiring immediate repair, burdening us with extra costs that pull us away from where our hearts truly belong, with the children and creating their dream outdoor learning space. This isn’t just about property.

“This is about the children who come to nursery and ask why their space keeps getting ‘broken.’

“This is about the disappointment on their little faces when their excitement turns to confusion. This is about protecting something magical we’re building for them.

“We call these vandals: “The Smile Stealers” because each act of vandalism takes away the joy from our children’s little faces.”