Ten bushes ripped out of couple's garden

Maureen and Peter Linksey told the Observer their reaction to the "absolute devastation" caused to their property on the corner of Magdalen Road and Manor Road.

"It is unbelievable", said Maureen.

"We came out in the morning and found somebody had come along and actually ripped out all these trees.

"What person in their right mind does such a thing? I can't believe the mentality of someone who could do this. To me it is just appalling."

Peter (pictured) thinks the trees - planted three years ago and now worth 30 each - were pulled up one by one, taken round the corner to Jameson Road and transported away by lorry.

"Someone has taken them for a private job," he claimed.

"They have knicked 10 trees thinking they will make some quick money - they are probably doing a job cash-in-hand. They will put these trees in for someone but in a couple of weeks they will be dead anyway. The roots are still in the ground."

The couple reckon the theft took place in the early hours of Wednesday August 10 and hope anyone with information will make contact the police.

Their home has security lighting, so anyone on their property should have been clearly visible.

Peter said: "I should stick a big sign up asking has anyone seen the scumbag who stole my trees? It's disgraceful." H34014