Promotional signs for the Bourne End Community Market have been mysteriously vandalised and stolen, causing distress among the local community and organisers.

The market, a not-for-profit initiative, has been a mainstay in the community for nearly 13 years, held on the second Saturday of every month.

The signs, endorsed by both the Bucks and Parish Councils, are displayed a week in advance of the market and promptly taken down the next day.

Last month, five signs around Flackwell Heath were removed and damaged, left discarded by the roadside.

As a dedicated volunteer, Holly Whittaker replaced the signs four times to maintain the necessary publicity for the market.

Earlier this month, the signs were put up, following routine, only to be stolen outright.

The cost to replace the damaged and stolen signs amounted to £200, excluding the time spent by Ms Whittaker and sign sponsors, Kingshills.

Holly said: "That is £200 that could have gone to One Can or the Food hub.

"We cannot understand why."

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Despite these challenges, Ms Whittaker pledges to keep replacing the signs until the day before the market to uphold their commitment to stallholders.

"Bourne End Community Market is entirely managed by volunteers and all profits along with café earnings are donated to local charities," she said.

"The market provides a platform for a dozen charity stalls to fundraise for their causes every month, while also hosting a Wellbeing Hub that offers free health advice to the community.

"It also makes space for Wye Valley Volunteers to share information about their services, covering Flackwell Heath, Bourne End, Little Marlow and Wooburn.

"In turn, the market encourages footfall to other community amenities like the Princes Centre and Bourne End Library.

"Additionally, many stallholders are from the Flackwell Heath area and count on the market's advertising for more visitors.

"These stallholders are hardworking crafters trying hard like the rest of us to help make ends meet," Ms Whittaker added.

Bourne End Community Market which exhibits more than 60 stalls of crafts and information also hosts a food market, popular for its variety including the likes of breads, fish, meat, and cheese.

Patrons from Bourne End and Wooburn frequent this market as well as the Flackwell Heath food-only market which is another charity organisation.

Last year, the Bourne End Market supported 70 small businesses and an array of charities including Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, Bucks Hospice, One Can Trust and many more.

"Who would do this vandalism?", questioned Ms Whittaker.