VEGETABLES that were stolen from a couple's market garden in Evesham could cause severe stomach cramp after being sprayed with chemicals.

The warning went out from pensioners Sylvia and Ivor Fortey after about a dozen cauliflower and calabrese, were stolen from their Peewit Road plot in Hampton earlier this week.

They had been sprayed with a pesticide containing chlorpyrifos.

The vegetables are not fit for consumption for at least 10 days and could induce stomach cramp to anyone who eats them.

"It's worrying because if anyone eats any of the vegetables they could be really sick," said Mrs Fortey, aged 63.

"My husband said if the thieves eat them it might teach them not to steal. The air was blue when he came back home on Tuesday!"

The couple believe the thieves struck sometime either Monday or Tuesday.

Mrs and Mrs Fortey, who have farmed about nine acres of Vale-of-Evesham land for more than 40 years, claim thieves regularly target their plots.

Just two weeks ago a new energiser battery, used to create an electric fence to ward off rabbits, was taken from the Peewit Road site at a cost of £130.

"We have something taken nearly every week - they will go and help themselves," said Mrs Fortey.

"If they were to come and ask we would give it but they just take it. It annoys me, especially as we are pensioners.

Cramps

"We're not going to be responsible for anyone who takes stuff without asking. "

David Buffin, spokesman for the Pesticide Action Network said: "Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate so in a high enough concentration it could attack the human nervous system. But the sort of symptoms likely are severe stomach cramps."

Mrs Fortey said she had not contacted the police because they had no success catching previous thieves.

PC Paul Adams said: "People should report all crimes to the police. If they do not we have no chance at all of catching the thieves."