Plants have been stolen from Terrington St Clement Community School just weeks after being bedded

Volunteers at a village primary school have said they are “lost for words” after discovering donated plants had been stolen from their flower beds.

Pupils, volunteers and family members at Terrington St Clement’s Community School worked together earlier this month to fill three planters for children to enjoy.

Now, their hard work and donations have been torn from the ground as an unknown thief is thought to have taken plants from some of the beds.

Kat Whitmore, volunteer and chair of the ‘Friends of the School Association’ (FOSA), has said that she worries about replacing the plants in case they’re stolen again.

Kat said: “Week after week more and more have gone. One of the three beds is now half empty.”

Members of the public have taken to social media to suggest that animals could have been the culprits, however, Kat explained that this theory is unlikely as no roots were left and only selected plants have gone missing.

She added: “I am lost for words. That someone can steal from schoolchildren is a disgrace.

“The plants were donated so generously by an amazing local business and our ‘Friends of the School’ committee is a registered charity - so the thief has stolen from us both, the community and school children.”

Moat Road Nursery had donated plants, compost and bark to the school.

“I’m left wondering sadly will there be any plants left for the children to see when they return to school in September,” said Kat.