Heartless vandals trash Ludlow floral display
A display of flowers to welcome people to a Shropshire market town has been destroyed just days after it was put in place.
The planters, complete with signs welcoming people to Ludlow, were put in place after two weeks of work for Ludlow in Bloom, to be judged next month.
But just days after the display was in created by volunteers at a cost of about £600, the plants have been ripped up, the boxes vandalised and welcoming signs stolen.
Vivienne Parry, chair of Ludlow in Bloom and Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, said she could not understand what appeared to be an act of mindless destruction.
She said: "They've pulled up the plants and the boxes have all really been smashed up at the back.
"We've now lost both signs that say welcome to Ludlow. We can't find the signs anywhere. Where have they taken them?"
She said the two flower displays had cost about £250 each, and the planter boxes about £50 each, money which was not easy to come by. "It's just ridiculous. Why do people cause trouble like this?" she said.
"We don't just want to win something for ourselves, we're trying to win something for the town, and bring tourists in."
Ludlow has won awards in the Heart of England In Bloom competition eight times, and organisers have high hopes of impressing judges again when they visit on July 10.
She said the planting effort this year had involved young people from Ludlow Foyer housing project and the Ludlow Education Centre, local councillors, and volunteers from Churches Together.
The planters had been sponsored by Ludlow Town Council, Ludlow Methodist Church and shops across the town.
