Volunteers disappointed by flower display vandalism

Green-fingered residents who have made award-winning displays said they have been hit by a spate of vandalism.

Chatteris in Bloom, from the Cambridgeshire town, said a scarecrow firefighter and a FIFA World Cup replica had been damaged.

The group, a community organisation of volunteers, is one of four finalists in the town category of the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Britain In Bloom competition, with its chosen theme "Around the World in 80 days".

Its president Sue Unwin said that the only blessing was that the vandals hit the day after judges visited from the prestigious competition.

The group said they had not reported the incidents to the police.

Unwin said the firefighter effigy was installed in honour of the fire crews working at the nearby Holme Fen Nature Reserve, where a peat fire has raged since 8 August.

However, it was up for only a few days before it was found "topless" with its arms and high visibility jacket removed.

Sandie Mellors, head gardener for the group, said: "Some people are just wrecking some of our displays, we don't know who, but it is appalling really."

Of the damage to the firefighter effigy, she added: "I think someone just wanted the jacket, as they are quite expensive,"

In the RHS competition, the town is up against Glastonbury in Bloom, Henley in Bloom - and Blooming Haddington, East Lothian.

Finalists will receive an RHS Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze award at a ceremony in the autumn.

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