MORE than 50 sheds have been broken into at allotments site in Worcester during two break-ins this week, prompting a call for heightened security.

Windsor Avenue allotments were broken into on Sunday, October 24, with the vandals then returning on the night of Tuesday, October 26.

Worcestershire County councillor Richard Udall has said that not a lot was stolen but an extensive amount of damage was caused.

He said: " Allotments have always been vulnerable to break-ins, but the sustained attacks, is unprecedented.

“Allotment holders work long and hard to care for their allotments, they don't deserve to be attacked in such a despicable way. The parasites who are responsible need to be caught, anyone with information, I would urge to come forward and share it with us.”

He added: “A number of items of equipment have been taken, mostly lawn mowers and cultivators.

“However, the biggest problem was the damage caused, over fifty sheds were broken into, doors and gates were broken and at least one polytunnel was damaged.”

As a result, councillor Udall has launched a petition which he intends to present to the Environmental Committee and Worcester City Council this week, in an effort to increase security at the site.

He added: “As local councillors, we are determined not to give in to such illegal activity, we will seek extra resources to be made available to beef up security and to protect the property of allotment users.

"I hope the City Council will take the advice from the police and will invest in measures to protect allotments across the city.

“We would like to see better security, improved locks and gates and lighting. The police have made some security suggestions which we would like to see being adopted.”

It also appears concerns regarding security are felt elsewhere.

A tenant at another site in Worcestershire has spoken of how he has spent more than four years trying to get the council to improve fencing and gateways.

They said: “I have tried many ways to get this progressed but seem to run into some kind of block or stonewaller at every turn.”