THIEVES destroyed three years of work when they stole 50 miniature fruit trees from Blackmoor Nurseries.

The trees, which stolen last Sunday, were due to be displayed at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July.

The crime left nursery manager John Munday devastated when he discovered, on Monday morning, the metre-high trees - cherry, apricot, nectarine, apple and peach - had gone from the polytunnel.

They cost around £700, but in the terms of the work that has gone into their care over the past few years they were "invaluable", he said.