A GROUP of Stourbridge volunteers who have been working to brighten up the town have been left disheartened after one of the planters they'd been tending was trashed.

Members of Stourbridge U3A group have taken responsibility for a number of large planters dotted around the town centre since the pandemic hit - to help bring a bit of cheer to shoppers.

Stourbridge News: U3A volunteers and their planters in Stourbridge town centreU3A volunteers and their planters in Stourbridge town centre

At the weekend they devoted two hours of their time to watering and tending to the flowers they'd planted but on Sunday they found one of the planters by the Foster Street subway had been targeted by vandals.

Most of the pretty blooms planted had been ripped up and a spokesman for the group said: "We were so disappointed.

"The team gave two hours of their time watering and taking care of the planters, which is nice and many people do appreciate it.

"It's always the few who spoil things."

Stourbridge News: U3A volunteers in Stourbridge town centreU3A volunteers in Stourbridge town centre

The damage was particularly galling as volunteers have been doing their bit to bring some colour to the town as Stourbridge prepares once again to enter the prestigious Heart of England in Bloom campaign.

This time round, however, entries will be by digital portfolio as the traditional in-person judging day which usually takes place in early July has been scrapped this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Portfolios of work to support the Bloom campaign must be submitted by the end of July and judging will take place in August, with the winners set to be announced in September.