A TREE farmer in Worcestershire has had almost £1,000 of stock stolen less than a fortnight before Christmas.

About 50 Norway and blue spruce trees were taken from Nick Beard’s Rushwick compound on the A44, near Worcester, between 5.30pm and 8pm on Thursday.

Mr Beard, who is the farm manager of the family business, and also runs the Leigh Sinton Christmas Tree site, near Malvern, said they were upset when they found the trees missing.

“We haven’t had a very good few days,” he said.

“It’s very upsetting and quite frustrating that this has happened.”

Mr Beard said security had now been stepped up on both sites.

The trees were all packaged individually in white netting and had white labels with the black lettering BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers). Each label also had a picture of a green Christmas tree with a Union Jack.

PC Mike Boswell said: “We would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between the times given but also from anyone who is offered a tree, matching the descriptions given, under unusual circumstances.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call PC Boswell on 0300 333 3000 quoting 631/S/111298.

l A man has been arrested and charged with handling stolen goods following a separate theft from Leigh Sinton Farm & Nurseries, which is also owned by Mr Beard, between Wednesday and Thursday.