Thief strikes at garden of poorly OAPs

After recently being diagnosed with Alziemer’s disease, Colin Proffitt and his wife Barbara decided to spend more time on their Symonds Road garden, in Fulwood, Preston.

But after spending dozens of hours toiling in the soil, the couple awoke on Wednesday morning to find the row of plants had disappeared.

And 72-year-old Colin and 75-year-old Barbara’s daughter Tracey Billington is furious, saying the raiders have really upset her mum.

“My mum has got really into her gardening because dad doesn’t like her leaving him alone in the house since being diagnosed,” Tracey said. “She’s really upset that someone would come along and do this and ruin her hard work.

“The people that took them must have had a van because these were big pots.

“Mum said she heard something at 5am but obviously didn’t want to go out to have a look.”

But the local community has united in an attempt to make sure Barbara doesn’t throw in the trowel, after Tracey posted on Facebook about her mother’s despair.

She said: “I’ve been inundated with messages from people wanting to donate flowers for mum’s garden. It’s so nice of everyone and shows there are still decent people out there.

“I’m not too keen on giving my mum’s address out but I’m sure we’ll find a way of getting mum some new plants.”

Colin and Barbara haven’t reported the incident to police yet but intend to in case the offence isn’t a one off.