A HEARTBROKEN grandmother is thinking of giving up her life-long passion for gardening after vandals set fire to her allotment.

Gardeners say they have been suffering for months with vandalism and anti-social behaviour from youths who got onto the allotments via Prestwood recreation ground at night.

The woman, who is too scared to be named, said: "I go down there everyday and I dread to think what damage they might have caused.

"They pull up the cabbages and use them as footballs. There are always broken bottles and empty cans to pick up in the morning.

"They pick the strawberries, but they don't eat them. I wouldn't mind it if they just picked a few and went away, but they are spiteful and throw them in the water butts.

"My neighbours have had gardening tools stolen, and their sheds pushed over and now this. I don't know whether I can continue."

Her shed in Nairdwood Lane, Prestwood was set on fire at around 6.45pm last Sunday. Heat from the flames caused a shed on a neighbouring plot to burn down as well.

The cost of replacing the shed is around £800, but she is most upset about the loss of her wooden gardening tools, handed down to her by her late grandfather and father.

She said: "My grandfather gave me some steps he used to use for work. I had them cut down so I could use them.

"My father had a special spade he gave to me. Everything has gone up in flames and I can't replace them. It's a damn nuisance. Some people complained at first, but it didn't make a blind bit of difference.

"We objected to the floodlighting being put in at the recreation ground. It brings more youths and trouble for us.

"Sometimes we challenge the kids if we see them, but we get a lot of foul abuse. One chap told a kid off once and he pulled out a knife.

"I love gardening. I come down here for around three hours a day, but it's so disheartening when you come down to find everything has been destroyed.

"I can't start again on another plot. It took me seven years to get it so that I can manage it. I dug it out from top to bottom and stoned it and planted fruit trees and bushes. I haven't got the energy to dig it all over again somewhere else. The yobs have won."