CRICKLADE Bloomers have vowed they will not be beaten after their new base was targeted by burglars.

The group, which keeps the town looking beautiful with flowers, only moved into their new home on what used to be a patch of waste ground behind Tesco in the late summer and worked to create a base where they could grow and sell their plants.

But just over a week ago the compound was broken into and newly-installed CCTV was stolen along with a small amount of cash.

Now townspeople are crowdfunding to replace the stolen equipment and give the group a boost.

Bob Jones, vice-chairman of the Bloomers, said: “We shall continue, we will not be beaten.”

The group, which has won a bunch of In Bloom awards for the displays it creates in Cricklade, is used to dealing with upturned planters in the town and petty acts of vandalism and took the attitude that it wasn’t going to stop them. But the burglary came as an unpleasant shock.

“We didn’t pick it up until Monday when one of our members came and found the door was wide open.”

He said they later talked to Tesco and discovered the store had also suffered a break in on Saturday night.

It is believed the burglary was carried out by a professional thief rather than opportunists or youths. “They used a jemmy to open the door and smash the locks. They were clearly looking for cash, but we only have a small amount of cash on the premises – enough to buy milk and biscuits.”

Used as an office, the hut is one of three but it was the only one broken into.

The CCTV monitor and recorder had only just been installed and had not yet been used, but members believe it may have been taken because the thieves feared they had been videoed.

“We got it at a special rate of £300 but replacing it is going to cost £600,” said Mr Jones.

Insurance is expected to cover some of the cost but the group is planning to spend another £200 putting in an alarm system that will alert them through a phone call if there is another break-in. A local carpenter also came forward after the burglary and repaired the smashed door free of charge.

“We are insured but the excess will probably be quite high. As soon as we can get our act together we will get the CCTV up and running and the alarm on,” Mr Jones said.

When the Bloomers moved in to the site it was the first time they had a home in four years. They had to leave their old base behind Lloyds TSB because a developer wanted to build a house.

A justgiving site has been set up and has already raised £85 towards a £1,000 target. Anyone wanting to make a donation can visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cricklade-bloomers