ELDERLY care home residents have been left devastated after callous thieves stole potted plants from their garden.

Residents and staff at North Park Care Home, in I’Anson Street, Darlington, had raised around £300 through fundraising events to buy flowers and plant pots to spruce up their garden, which backs onto North Park.

However their efforts have been thwarted by heartless yobs who have stolen the plants and their pots.

Senior carer Sharon Hird said the plants not only made the garden a more attractive place to be, but provided stimulation for residents who suffer from dementia.

“They are gutted. The residents did the fundraising as well as staff and they have just taken the positive feeling out of it,” she said.

“They love sitting out in the garden under the gazebo. A lot of our residents suffer from dementia and they just like to touch and feel the plants.”

Deputy manager Mark Culley added: “It is something the residents have been quite proud of.

“We like to enter the Barchester in Bloom competition but it doesn’t help when the plants get pinched.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Darlington police on 101.