Bungling council workers have shredded thousands of daffodils in a memorial garden which were just about to bloom in the springtime.
Residents living close to the Garden of Hope in Thundersley Common were devastated as they discovered the daffodils which had cut down in their prime, meaning they will not flower this year.
The 5,000 daffodil bulbs were planted in the memorial garden set up by the Marie Curie Cancer charity on the common ten years ago.
Dave Wells, former Labour leader of Castle Point Council, said: "It's idiotic."
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