An elderly gardener is angry after thieves stole five plants from his garden.

Harry Allen, 78, of Shelley Walk, Braintree, had five heather plants dug out of his front garden and he wants to find out who did it.

He said: "I was given the plants as a present and planted them in October, and they were coming on beautifully. They were very noticeable in my garden. There's no two ways about it.

"What I would like to know is what kind of scoundrel would do a thing like this."

The plants were stolen overnight on Tuesday and Mr Allen believes the holes left behind looked as if they had been dug with a trowel.

He said: "It was definitely adults. Kids would have just ripped them out. These have been dug out professionally."

A spokesman for Braintree police said there was no way of securing garden plants against theft. He said: " "Anyone that has suffered a theft like this should notify the police immediately."

Published Thursday, January 30, 2003

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