Gardeners targeted days before annual show

In April burglars caused £1,000 of damage to buildings at Sandy Lane Allotments in Bushbury, Wolverhampton.

And last week they tried to get in again but ran off when alarms were triggered.

Bosses at Sandy Lane Allotments and Gardeners Association said it has left them fearful for their future.

They added the latest damage could not have come at a worse time as they prepare to host a Garden Show on Saturday.

Mike Nickholds, the association's treasurer, said: "They tried to gain access to the premises by bending metal grills on the doors but the alarms went off.

"It is the locks on the doors that are mainly damaged. The metal grill is completely bent. They clearly used some kind of crowbar."

Chris Nickholds, Mike's son and the association's general secretary, added: "This damage has left us financially stretched and fearful for the future."

Following the damage caused in April, members of the association began organising their own patrols to try and prevent further incidents.

Mike, aged 67, from Bushbury, said they have also asked local residents to keep their eyes open for any suspicious activity.

The latest incident occurred on August 23 and caused around £350 of damage. The association will still be holding the show on Saturday,

Mike, added: "We are a non-for-profit community resource and we operate on very low margins for the shop.

"We do community work so this is a blow to us, but our members have been very good and rallied around."

The Sandy Lane Allotments, also known as Bushbury Lane allotments, include around 100 plots in total. The Sandy Lane Allotments and Gardeners Association has around 450 members.

In addition to the annual show on Saturday, the association is holding a cookery competition on September 30.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said the latest incident was reported but that there were no leads to pursue.

In June the force stepped up patrols around the allotments after reports of criminal damage.