‘DEVASTATED’ Rainbows were left in tears after having hanging baskets – part of their entry to Leamington in Bloom – stolen.
The group of five to seven-year-olds – who meet at St Mark’s Church in the town – have spent months working on their hanging baskets as part of their entry to the annual flower competition.
But group guide Julie Brown, who waters the flowers on a daily basis, recently found two baskets in the Rainbow’s garden at the church had disappeared.
When she told the girls’ they were ‘devastated’.
Five-year-old Sophie Riman contacted the Observer to appeal to the thieves to return the baskets which she helped to work on.
She said: “It’s really naughty the thieves stole our beautiful baskets. Please will they just bring them back and leave them by the church office at St Marks.
“It will really affect our entry for Leamington in Bloom.”
Since the theft some businesses and a committee member from the flower competition supplied replacement baskets and blooms.
But the group was so proud of its last offering members are still hoping they will be returned.
Julie said: “Thank you to all the kindness received from the companies who helped the group out.
“The Rainbows have worked so hard on the baskets and in the past they have been ‘highly commended’ from Leamington in Bloom.
“All the baskets had purple petunias in. It is awful for thieves to steal off little children who have worked so hard to keep the garden beautiful.”
“We really hope they will be returned.”
