BROMSGROVE nursery children are missing out after a tour bus used in the production of Dear Zoo was stolen in Cambridgeshire.

The play is based on the books by children's author Rod Campbell and had been travelling between theatres all over the UK.

Producer Chris Davis said the Mercedes truck was stolen in Peterborough in the early hours of Saturday morning with about GBP50,000 of props, costumes and set pieces inside.

Dear Zoo took to Twitter to let parents know their Bromsrove shows, ath The Artrix, have been cancelled.

Mr Davies said the truck was fitted with a tracking device that indicates it could now be in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Its number plate is CA67 NLX and anyone with any information is asked to contact the police.

The show has been staged to celebrate 35 years since Dear Zoo was first published and is the story of a child who writes to a zoo asking to be sent a pet.

It was performed at the Key Theatre in Peterborough on Thursday and Friday, and had been due to head to the Artrix yesterday (Sunday).

The author said of the production: "I can hardly believe that Dear Zoo has celebrated its 35th anniversary and I really am enormously touched and delighted that successive generations of young children continue to love Dear Zoo - their obvious pleasure when interacting with it is so gratifying to see, and for me is the very greatest of compliments!"