South Molton’s award-winning floral displays could disappear after volunteers warned they may be forced to stop their work because of repeated vandalism.
South Molton in Bloom said ongoing damage to plants and displays was leaving volunteers “heartbroken” while also wasting money donated to support the group’s work across the town.
In a message shared on social media, the volunteer group said continued acts of vandalism had pushed them to question whether they could carry on.
The group said: “South Molton in Bloom may have to give up unless the police do something about the vandalism in town, as not only is it heartbreaking for us volunteers but also a waste of the donated money.
“But will all the residents want to see all the weeds back everywhere?”
The volunteers also called for a greater police presence in South Molton, saying they believed policing resources were focused on Barnstaple and Ilfracombe despite South Molton being a growing town.
They said: “Police focus on Barnstaple and Ilfracombe but this is a growing town. We need to get the police here to focus on this town.”
The group encouraged residents who felt strongly about the issue to speak with police officers if they were in the town’s market and urged people to report every incident of antisocial behaviour.
The post added: “Everyone needs to report every single bit of antisocial behaviour to accumulate the stats for the police.”
