Almost 50 hanging baskets destroyed in 'disgusting and meaningless' act of vandalism

Reedley Hallows Allotment holders were left devastated on Saturday morning when they arrived to find their allotments on Windermere Avenue in Burnley had been broken into and trashed.

Forty two of the 50 hanging baskets which were due to be sold at an event raising money for Pendleside Hospice, were deliberately smashed-up, in what Hospice supporters called 'disgusting and meaningless'.

A spokesperson for the allotment society said: "The baskets were systematically taken off the wire where they were hanging, up-ended and deliberately trashed.

"The sale went ahead with the surviving few alongside a sale of surplus perennial and vegetable plants that allotment holders and supporters brought along and donated."

The hanging baskets have been destroyed

It is believed the police have been contacted about the incident, but it left the allotment society disappointed as the final total was not as much as they had hoped for.

The spokesperson added: "This was a disgusting and meaningless thing to do.

"Not only has it deprived the Hospice of much needed funds but the man who makes-up the baskets has spent hours and hours planting and creating them ready for the sale and someone senselessly and viciously destroyed them. It's terrible.

The hanging baskets have been destroyed

"The Hospice will still receive some monies, although less than the allotment society had hoped, because of the takings from the surplus plant sales and some donations from people who arrived hoping to buy a basket but who were then disgusted to learn what had happened and witnessed the mindless destruction for themselves.

"There are some very kind people in this world but also some who are very wicked."