A disabled Margate woman who won a local gardening competition is devastated after plants were stolen from her display.

Kaz Hadley, 52, of Godwin Road was announced as joint winner of Cliftonville in Bloom on July 15.

But she was shocked to see three of her prize winning oriental lilies had been taken when she left the house on Wednesday morning.

She said: “I’ve spent a lot of time and money and this year was the best the garden has ever been.

“I couldn’t believe it when I went outside, it really broke my heart.

“The garden still looks pretty but the point is they have stolen these plants and it will take another year for them to come up again.

“Last year I had plants stolen just before the competition and now I’m petrified they are going to damage my other flowers.”

Kaz is partially sighted and suffers from osteoarthritis in her spine.

Her problems started to develop in the last six years when diabetes-related complications led to a loss of vision and extensive nerve damage.

But with her son's help she has been able to work in her garden and won awards twice in the last two years in the annual Cliftonville in Bloom competition.

She said: “When people come past I have had some beautiful comments and I like keeping the garden nice to make everyone happy, and then someone comes and does this.

“I had a fence put up and a gate to discourage people from getting into the garden, but they must have reached over the fence and pulled the lilies out. They had eight or nine buds on them and were about four foot high.”

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Kent Police is investigating a report of a theft believed to have taken place between 10.30am on July 28 and 9.05am on July 29.

“A number of plants known as oriental lilies were reported missing.”

Anyone who might have witnessed the theft can contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting ZY/023248/15.