Guiseley In Bloom has hit out at heartless thieves who ransacked a new display just days before the summer judging.

Volunteers for the group completed planting work on a plot at the corner of Renton Avenue and Otley Road last Saturday, and were delighted with the result.

But within two days someone had stripped the land of the two large cordylines and many of the geraniums which had been so carefully set in place.

With judges from Yorkshire In Bloom due to visit the town on Tuesday the theft forced Guiseley In Bloom (GIB) to quickly start all over again.

Co-ordinator Shirley Hughes-Rowlands said: "This has happened just a week before the Summer Judging.

"I can understand children pulling flowers up but at the moment we're suffering from plants which are definitely being taken by adults.

"We are used to getting a few people who have been drinking messing up the displays, but this is targeted and deliberate.

"As well as the flowers they have also stolen a couple of hanging baskets so all in all it has been a demoralising few days.

"I expect those responsible think these things belong to the council and, since they pay rates, believe they have a right to them.

"But of course they're paid for by us and we are a small, voluntary group with limited funds."

The unwelcome discovery of the theft was made by the group on Monday, but Mrs Hughes-Rowl-ands says work is already underway to repair the damage.

GIB volunteer Pat Latty says she was outraged at what happened and could not understand the mentality of those who did it.

She said: "When we had completed the large planter on Saturday it looked a picture, there were two cordylines and a lot of geraniums and it made a very striking display.

"Imagine how heartbreaking it was then to find on Monday that they had been stolen.

"Most people think that GIB has really had an effect on the town, we get a lot of compliments, and I am sure it spurs many people to improve their gardens.

"What a pity there are people in our society who seek only to spoil."

GIB came first in the Spring Judging in the Urban Comm-unities class and Mrs Hughes-Rowlands said it was determined to try to repeat that success in the summer stage of the competition.

She also had this warning for those who were stealing GIB plants and baskets: "The police and Neighbourhood Watch have been informed about this.

"We do know where the plants are going from and we now have a mobile CCTV camera moving around the different locations, so we are watching them.

"We will definitely make good the display in time and I shall be disappointed if we don't do very well again in next week's judging.

"But all this doesn't help and requires extra money and work.

"We will soldier on come what may, though, the thieves are not going to win."