FLOWERS planted by a volunteer group have been ripped up by vandals in the third such incident this year.

Hereford in Bloom volunteers discovered that plants had been pulled out of two large planters near to Hereford Town Hall on St Owen Street overnight on Saturday.

It is the third such vandalism this year, with flowers having also been thrown out of planters outside the Kerry and on the roundabout on Ledbury Road.

Paul Hodges from Hereford in Bloom said: "[The latest incident] is estimated to have cost £500 worth of damage and we have had to throw them all away because it's too late in the season.

"It's very sad when there are people out there wanting to do the best they can for the city and people do this. We all like a few drinks sometimes but we don't all go pulling the plants up."

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Mr Hodges on 07742110883. A reward is on offer.