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Volunteers disappointed by flower display vandalism

John Devinein Chatteris
News imageJohn Devine/BBC A lady with short white/grey hair swept across her forehead, she is wearing a high-viz orange and grey tabard over a green top and black blouse. Behind her is a street with cars and buildings with flowers visible on hanging baskets and planters.John Devine/BBC
Sue Unwin said "mindless vandalism" was hitting the hard work put in by dedicated volunteers

Green-fingered residents who have made award-winning displays said they have been hit by a spate of vandalism.

Chatteris in Bloom, from the Cambridgeshire town, said a scarecrow firefighter and a FIFA World Cup replica had been damaged.

The group, a community organisation of volunteers, is one of four finalists in the town category of the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Britain In Bloom competition, with their theme being the World Cup.

Its president Sue Unwin said that the only blessing was that the vandals hit the day after judges visited from the prestigious competition.

The group said they had not reported the incidents to the police.

News imageSUE UNWIN A small amount of gold plastic material can be seen with part of the chain from a hanging basket inside, purple flowers are around what was a model of the FIFA World Cup. SUE UNWIN
The World Cup trophy was made from a hanging basket and wood, and covered in gold plastic material

Unwin said the firefighter effigy was installed in honour of the fire crews working at the nearby Holme Fen Nature Reserve, where a peat fire has raged since 8 August.

However, it was up for only a few days before it was found "topless" with its arms and high visibility jacket removed.

News imageSUE UNWIN A lady wearing a floral dress and a wide-brimmed, black hat, decorated with flowers, holds a scarecrow that is wearing a hi-vis orange jacket and yellow helmet and is dressed to look like a fireman.SUE UNWIN
Mellors checking on the effigy before judges came to look
News imageJohn Devine/BBC A scarecrow of a fireman with its arms and jacket missing. The head and face are still intact with a yellow helmet on its head. Behind is a window and a brick wall with a hedge to the left side of the picture.John Devine/BBC
The armless and jacketless fireman following the reported vandalism

Sandie Mellors, head gardener for the group, said: "Some people are just wrecking some of our displays, we don't know who, but it is appalling really."

Of the damage to the firefighter effigy, she added: "I think someone just wanted the jacket, as they are quite expensive,"

In the RHS competition, the town is up against Glastonbury in Bloom, Henley in Bloom - and Blooming Haddington, East Lothian.

Finalists will receive an RHS Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze award at a ceremony in the autumn.

News imageJohn Devine/BBC A headshot of Sandie Mellors who has sandy-coloured, shoulder length hair parted to her right. She is wearing a lime green fleece top. There are shrubs, bushes and a black litter bin in the background. John Devine/BBC
Sandie Mellors said she thought someone would have seen the damage happening

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