HEARTLESS thieves have decimated a series of planters in Ferndown just weeks before the South and South East in Bloom competition.

The town council re-bedded the planters along Victoria Road in preparation for the competition, one of the largest horticultural campaigns in the region.

However, the efforts of the King George V ground staff and the town lengthsman were wasted when green-fingered thieves stole almost 200 of the plants just 10 days later.

Town clerk Ian Jones said staff spent several days removing the winter bedding and preparing the boxes before planting, with all the work completed by June 3. However, by June 14 the thieves had struck.

“Four of the boxes had become completely devoid of any plants, with some 175 plants in total being stolen,” he said Mr Jones added that he was “disappointed that people had removed so many plants for their own purposes”.

The town council is now calling on members of the public to help in identifying the culprits.

Mr Jones said: “In the past there had been a few plants removed but this year matters seem to have escalated.

“It is sad that the beautiful displays have been decimated in this way.”