THIEVES responded to the “Welcome to Ledbury” sign on the Ross Road by helping themselves to all the flowers from the two wooden tubs beneath it.

Police believe the theft took place sometime overnight between May 31 and June 1, and they are not ruling out a possible link with last weekend’s Jubilee celebrations.

West Mercia police spokesman Chris Ammonds said: “It could be somehow linked to the Jubilee.

We are keeping an open mind.

But we didn’t find any Union Jacks in the tubs.

“It was a mean theft, given that people had given their time to put the displays together.”

The displays were the work of Ledbury in Bloom volunteers, and the cost of the stolen plants has been put at £80 to £100.

A Ledbury in Bloom spokesman, who did not wish to be named, said: “All the flowery plants were stripped from the Ledbury in Bloom welcome tub.

“A glorious display of geraniums, petunias, marigolds, and camomile plants was completely wiped out by the theft. Ledbury in Bloom volunteers who planted the display were very upset by the mean theft.

“They went to water the plants on Friday morning, and discovered the two long boxes entirely empty, with pansies rejected and thrown aside.

“It is not the monetary loss. It is hours of hard work and watering, and the fact that Ledbury’s welcome tubs are at risk.”

In fact, it is the second time in a year that the two flower boxes on the Ross Road have been targeted.

In both cases, a car would probably have been used for the thefts.

Anyone with information is asked to report the incident to Ledbury community police on 101.