HORRIFIED pensioners woke yesterday to find 50 valuable stone slabs had been stripped from garden walls on their award-winning housing estate.

The Heathcliff estate of maisonettes and flats, in Haworth, won design prizes when it opened in 1968 and has some sixty properties with the majority rented by retired people.

Run by housing provider Incommunities, it also offers sheltered accommodation for elderly people.

And whoever carried out the brazen raid walked right past the windows of occupied homes while hauling the heavy slabs to a waiting vehicle.

"They clearly didn't care if they were caught in the act and would probably have just knocked anyone down who dared challenge them," said one resident who asked not to be named.

He lives near one of the low retaining walls which run below a public footpath which leads to the famous Bronte Parsonage Museum.

"This is a real jewel of a place to live and it's disgraceful that they'd just park up in a pick-up or van and steal whatever they wanted - which I estimate is about 50 Yorkshire coping stones."

The estate is made up of cul-de-sacs and the neat garden areas are lovingly tended.

Bird-tables and gnomes are among garden ornaments on the tidy strips of land behind the now-broken walls.

Retired mill worker Dorothy Martin, 76 had strong views on those responsible for raiding the estate.

She said: "They should have their blooming hands chopped off!

"Everybody loves living here, it's so nice and friendly and we all look after each other," she said.

"It's a lovely community and we all get on with lunch clubs and bingo now and again and everyone takes care of their little bits of garden.

"I know stone gets stolen from all over, but to come in and steal stuff is just a rotten thing to do," said Mrs Martin who has lived at Heathcliff for nearly three years.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the first call about the theft was received at 7.30am yesterday.

"Those responsible for were well organised and had left some slabs piled up and ready to take away.

"Anyone who saw any suspicious vehicles or behaviour in or around the Heathcliff estate is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

"And it is worth remembering that while this is festive season - criminals don't take holidays."

An Incommunities spokesperson said: “Following a police report of the theft of stones from a wall close to one of our sheltered homes, a repairs team has attended and recovered 17 coping stones that had been left nearby.

“Work will be carried out as soon as possible to restore the section of stone work removed from the wall.”