VOLUNTEERS at a community garden have been left devastated after handmade furniture designed for children was stolen.

Just a few days ahead of launching their garden at Rossmore Library, green-fingered members of Twigs were forced to report wooden logs had been taken from the site.

The group spearheaded the campaign to develop a community garden, as reported by the Daily Echo, last year.

Over the last 12 months the group have spent time and effort to build a herb garden and raised beds allowing local school children to grow their own vegetables. There was also a designated children’s seating area made of sanded and treated wooden logs - which were stolen earlier this week.

The incident, believed to have occurred between 5pm on Monday and 2pm on Thursday, has been reported to Dorset Police.

The garden was partly funded by a donation of £500 left to the group by a deceased library member.

It is not the first time the garden has been targeted by criminals. Plants and hedging was vandalised on two separate occasions last summer.

Volunteer Sue Hilton said organisers are devastated.

“It is opening on Saturday and we have got nowhere for children to sit,” she said. “I think it’s so mean.

“We have been doing the garden for over a year, and they have stolen these logs - probably just for firewood.”

Dee Hoy, group founder of Twigs, added: “Volunteers Sue and Ken took the time and trouble to save all this wood. It’s stuff that we can’t replace overnight.

“It’s tragic that someone is spiteful enough to do this. As much as we want to say the garden is complete we can’t.”

As well as the logs, three other pieces of wood - designed to be a habitat for wildlife - were taken.

“They have deprived the children of that as well,” Dee added. “It’s sickening.

“It’s too late, but we have got to open.

“We have been working on it for a year. There’s probably about 200 man hours per person that have gone in.

“And what’s worse is it’s being done for the community not just a small number of us. This is an open community and it’s sad that some person or persons have got such disregard for this.

“But I suppose that’s society today.”

A spokesman for the police said to call them on 101, quoting reference 55160065202, with any information about the thefts.