GREENFINGERED thieves helped themselves to £300 worth of shrubs and roses from a recently-planted public garden in Halesowen.

About 60 plants have been pinched from the Fingerpost Gardens in Rumbow – to the dismay of Halesowen in Bloom organisers.

They were part of a replanting scheme carried out by Dudley Council to improve the town for this year’s gold bid in the Britain in Bloom competition.

Halesowen in Bloom chairman Eve O’Connor said: “It is so disappointing when you work really hard to make the town nice and then this happens. But we will keep battling on.”

Mrs O’Connor is appealing for a “Good Samaritan” to step in with funds to replace the stolen plants.

“We will have to start fundraising to get the plants replaced and if anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated,” she said John Millar, acting strategic director of economy, environment and housing, said: “We have not yet carried out a full assessment of what has been stolen but we would estimate approximately 60 plants and shrubs have been taken at a total value of around £300.”

Mrs O’Connor is hoping people will sponsor the 36 floral troughs which will go on the railings outside the bus station at a cost of £40 each.

Sponsorship is also needed to fund the £200 three-tier and £300 five-tier planters in the town centre.

Hanging baskets can also be sponsored for £75 in memory of a loved one and cards and thanks to sponsors will be displayed on the town’s notice boards.

Wildflower seeds are also wanted to brighten up bare earth areas off Earls Island and Summer Hill.

Mrs O’Connor said the fundraising is half way towards the £6,000 needed for the summer bedding and people can put donations of cash and packets of wildflower seeds in the Butterfly Bloom box in the Cornbow Shopping Centre.

Anyone interested in offering sponsorship should contact Mrs O’Connor on 0121 585 5495.