Thieves stop the work of people with disabilities

On Saturday, a garage at Orchards Day Centre was targeted by thieves who stole powered lawnmowers, strimmers and a chainsaw.

The tools were the property of Leigh-based Orchard Gardens Co-operative, which is run by local people with learning disabilities. They have become a familiar sight in the district, carrying out cut-price gardening work for the elderly, disabled and infirm.

But at the weekend, a garage at the centre, off Leigh Road, was raided. Thieves forced the door and took two petrol lawn mowers, two petrol-driven strimmers and a chainsaw. They also damaged a vehicle used to transport co-perative workers and the tools of their trade.

Devastated Orchards Gardening Co-operative co-ordinator John Kennedy said: "They broke off the locks and also damaged the doors of the minibus we use for transportation.

"They were obviously looking to see if anything was stored inside it."

The thieves took two petrol mowers, one red and one orange, made by Mountfield and by Harry. Also missing are two yellow petrol-driven strimmers and a petrol-powered chainsaw, also yellow.

"The co-operative is run by 15 people with learning difficulties and they do gardening work for pensioners and the disabled who are unable to do their own. Work is carried out at reduced rates," Mr Kennedy said.

"We are sorry that because of these thefts we have had to let people down. We should have done work for 20 people this week but we have not had the equipment."

Inspector Bill Dyke, head of Leigh police operations unit, has now appealed for information about the thefts.

He said: "At this time of the year we get a lot of this sort of crime. Where does gardening equipment like this finish-up? If anybody knows anything about these thefts, please contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7352 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

If anyone can help Orchard Gardens Co-operative get back to work with suitable machinery, contact John Kennedy on 01942 671045.