FUNDRAISERS have been left “cross” after thieves stole a trough of plants they donated to a charity shop.


Tiptree Co-op Community Group gave the trough to Age UK to display outside its shop in Church Road.


It vanished overnight on Monday July 1.

Phyllis Woodiwiss, **corr**committee member, said it was the second time the trough had been stolen.
“We run the tea dance and raise money for local charities and last year one charity was the Age UK charity.
 

“We gave them a trough and stand with plants worth £45.
 

“At the end of the summer the trough was pinched but not the stand.
 

“This year we decided to get them another trough to put on the stand and put in plants again.
 

“We gave it to them at the beginning of June and on Monday or early

Tuesday, the whole thing was pinched.”
 

The trough and stand was worth £60.
 

Mrs Woodiwiss added: “We are really cross. We give our time to raise money and it has been pinched. The charity shop is cross about it as well. We won’t replace it anymore.”
 

Anyone with information should contact Essex Police on 101.