A hose used by Brightlingsea’s In Bloom team to water a floral display in the town centre has been stolen.

The hose was stored at the side of Sayers House in Victoria Place and was used by the ‘Bloomers’ to water the displays and planters in the nearby gardens. Its absence was discovered during the recent spell of hot weather.

Worth around £100, the theft means that a replacement has had to be paid for from the proceeds of the group’s successful plant sale on Saturday, May 30.

“It’s such a disappointment that we now have around £100 less in our coffers thanks to the thoughtlessness of others,” said Chris Kitchen of the group.