Ottery bridge flower trough theft

THE theft of a three-foot flower trough from St Saviour's Bridge, Ottery St Mary, won't deter Ottery in Bloom in its efforts to beautify the town.

But, says its chairman Sarah Clarke, it has left "a black cloud over the town."

Pupils from Year Seven at King's School planted out the 32 troughs at Otter Nurseries, which donated the mixed bedding plants, compost and containers.

They were all wired to the bridge in time for South West in Bloom judging on July 8, before the theft took place some time between Thursday and Saturday (July 16-18).

Councillor Joy Richardson reported the missing trough to Ottery Police.

She said: "I went down to see if it was in the river, but it wasn't. It has left a very distinctive gap."

Ms Clarke described those involved in the incident as "skanks."

She added: "It makes me very sad. We put so much work and effort into making the town look beautiful and someone wants to have a detrimental effect on the town.

"It affects all of us and puts a black cloud over the town."

The thief/vandal had to cut through wire to remove it.

"It is just pathetic. The troughs were stopped for a number of years for this exact reason, but we felt it was about time we came up against these people who feel the need to destroy things.

"It will not deter us," she said, adding; tongue in cheek: "We will just wire them up to the mains next time!"

She thinks the trough may have been thrown into the river and "might be in Tipton by now."

Pam Moss, marketing manager at Otter Nurseries, said each trough cost �25 to fill.

"It is very disappointing. You do all this and someone just mucks it up."

The nursery is considering whether to put a replacement trough on the bridge to fill the gap.

Anyone with information about the missing trough should call police on 08452 777 444 quoting KO/09/391.