VANDALS tried to steal a plastic polytunnel from a garden used by people with learning difficulties or mental health problems.

The 30ft tunnel in the Big Garden at High Woods Country Park, Colchester, was stolen and discovered outside the garden fence.

Because it is has been cut, it cannot be simply put back in place.

Instead, volunteers must now dig a trench around the polytunnel site and re-fit a new piece of plastic.

The vandals struck sometime between 5.30pm on Thursday June 27 and 9am on Friday June 28.

The incident has been reported to the police.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact police on 101 or Big Garden staff can be contacted on 01206 855287, or by email biggarden@colchester.gov.uk