DEVASTATED gardeners are appealing for help to track down thugs who caused £5,000 of damage to an allotment site.

In the early hours of Saturday, parts of the metal fencing at My Patch, off the B4005 near Hay Lane, was cut apart and a remote entrance gate smashed open.

Petrol strimmers were stolen and several sheds on the four-acre site were damaged.

Andy Laker, who owns the site, which opened to gardeners in April, said: “The damage is just ridiculous – they crashed their way through the gate, cut the fence and have taken an axe to some of the sheds.

“I’m absolutely gobsmacked. Stealing stuff is one thing but it appears that they’ve just gone out of their way to be destructive.

“I’m just appalled that people could do this.”

The crime has been reported to Wiltshire Police, who have appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

My Patch organisers are getting quotes for repairs, with the site’s 18 tenants also planning to meet later this week to discuss security improvements.

Andy is offering a £2,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction of those responsible.

“I’d ask anyone who knows who did this to grass them up as we didn’t deserve this,” he said.

“I hope they realise too that the effort they went to really wasn’t worth it as the stuff they took is probably only worth £500. They might as well start working night shifts at Asda.”

Since My Patch launched, it has proved to be popular with the community and plans to extend the site are being considered to allow more people to take up a plot.

Andy said: “There is a part of me that just doesn’t want to carry on but then I think about the people who come here to grow veg, keep chickens and have a laugh and a giggle.

“Everyone here is incredibly shocked at what has happened and can’t believe people would be so callous and calculated to do something like this.”

Six My Patch tenants have been affected by the attack.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “We are investigating this matter and would appeal for anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact police on 101.