VOLUNTEERS at The Tottington Centre have been left devastated after discovering a number of plants had been 'stolen' from their grounds.

The plants, which were installed by the Friends of Tottington Library group when they saved the library from closure earlier this year, disappeared over the weekend.

Volunteers claim to have seen a man and a woman in their 30s take the plants from the library's grounds as well as some from the nearby memorial garden.

They say the pair then headed off in the direction of Wesley Street.

It comes just weeks after the committee that runs the centre were told the centre's boiler was condemned.

Tottington councillor Yvonne Wright, who is a member of the Friends of Tottington Library, said she was 'disappointed' and 'disgusted' at finding out the plants had disappeared.

She said: "We are working so hard to make this place attractive for all to enjoy and then you get people doing that. It is very disrespectful."

Committee member Janis Barber, who leads a team of volunteer gardeners at the centre, added: “It’s disappointing to see a minority are working against us.

"One of our volunteers saw the culprits taking plants from beneath the sign then taking some from the memorial gardens too. It’s pretty disgusting behaviour."