Thieves who stole new equipment from a lock-up garage in Dunstable have left volunteer gardeners with a thorny problem.

Beecroft Balloon Society volunteers tackle gardening and household maintenance tasks, free of charge, for elderly, disabled and housebound people.

But gardening jobs had to be put on hold after the Efco brand equipment was stolen in the garage break-in, discovered last Saturday, August 16.

The Dunstable charity, which also provides transport help, has about 60 gardens on its list.

Beds county councillor Duncan Ross, the society's secretary, said: "We just spent £800 on new gardening equipment, a new lawnmower, a strimmer and a hedge trimmer, and somebody broke into the garage where it is stored, and stole it all.

"We have got to buy some more, so we can go back out and do some gardening again. I suppose we will get it back on insurance, but people can't wait until the insurance company sorts it out, so we have to buy it all again and hope that the insurance company covers it. It's a bit upsetting, to say the least."

Now the society hopes that anyone who is offered the equipment will contact police.

Anyone with information about the theft is urged to call police on 01582 401212.

Bedfordshire Police

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