Thieves have a blooming cheek

Villagers have been alerted to green-fingered thieves raiding gardens.

Residents in Dobcross have reported incidents of pots and plants being stolen and Marilyn McNeill, chair of the Dobcross Village Community (DVC) said: “It is very sad when people go to the expense and effort to make the village attractive.

“I would ask all villagers with CCTV cameras to check them for any suspicious night-time activity and everyone else to be vigilant.

Dobcross is one of the Saddleworth villages to be visited by judges later this month after Oldham achieved a gold award and category winner for North West in Bloom 2013.

And, a result, the borough was asked to take part in Britain in Bloom as regional representatives in this year’s city category.

Irene Wells (96), who lives in Dobcross New Road, had bloom-filled pots taken from the wall of her neat front garden.

“Its a disgrace,” she said. “The plants were in lovely pots — they just simply vanished overnight. I know other residents have lost them too.”

Her son, businessman James Wells, said: “Mother is really upset about the theft. Everyone puts so much effort into making the gardens pretty.

“It’s just completely thoughtless. I know other villagers have lost garden ornaments as well as plants.”

And a local garden nursery has urged the DVC to alert homeowners after hanging baskets were stolen.

Meanwhile, a big spruce-up is under way in Lydgate, Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph, Grains Road at Bishops Park and on route to Sholver, Heyside, Turf Lane, Shaw Road Royton and Rochdale Road to the town centre.

The judges’ first visit will be on Monday followed by national judging day for Britain in Bloom on Thursday, July 31.