A MAN smashed his way into a nursery before ransacking it and stealing a Nokia mobile phone.

Police have issued a witness appeal following the early-morning Boxing Day raid at Towneley Park Nursery on Todmorden Road, Burnley.

Officers said a man climbed over locked gates, broke wooden fencing and used a plant pot to smash a ground floor window at the property at around 1.20am. Once inside he ransacked a number of rooms and eventually left with the old Nokia mobile phone.

The suspect is described as being a white male, 5ft 10ins, of a slim build, with dark hair and a short beard. He was wearing a dark North Face jacket and distinctive light-coloured Nike Air tracksuit bottoms.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the burglary and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Anybody with information is asked to contact PC 1427 Mohammed Bhai on 101, quoting log 0113 of December 26. Alternatively email Mohammed.Bhai@lancashire.pnn.police.uk