A PALM tree which was to be a major part of Preston City Council's floral display at a prestigious flower show, has been stolen.

Thieves bundled the 8ft Phoenix Robelini palm tree, part of the council's works department display for next month's Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire, from a greenhouse in West Cliff, Preston.

The theft happened between 5pm on Tuesday and 7.30am on Wednesday. Bedding plants were also stolen.

The display, named the French Connection, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Preston's twinning with French town, Nimes, and incorporates the lamb from the Preston coat of arms and the palm tree tied to a crocodile from the Nimes version.

It took six staff several weeks to make the floral creation, designed by council worker Alan Rampling, and was unveiled at a special event at the opening of the floral anniversary tribute for the twinning celebrations at Miller Park on Friday.

John Gornall, assistant director of the works department, said: "They're absolute scumbags and we were absolutely devastated when we realised what had happened.

"I'm asking Citizen readers if they see any of these trees to tell the police and make sure we get these terrible people.

" If this had happened on the day of the show, we wouldn't have stood a chance." Council workers will be able to replace the tree and no risks will be taken as the replacement will be kept at wholesalers until just before the show, which runs from July 20-24.

Police said the tree and plants could have been stolen by people wanting to use them in their own or other people's gardens.

PC Carl Ingram said: "If Citizen readers keep their eyes out, there's a definite chance of getting it back.

"We're trying to promote a city in the best way we can which makes this an awful theft." Their heartache has also been felt by organisers of the Cheshire flower show.

Kris Hulewicz, show manager, said: "We know the Preston City Council team has been working extremely hard and this must be a very distressing time for them.

"We hope the perpetrators decide to do the decent thing and give back this prize specimen, as Preston's chances of winning the competition are dependent on it."