CALLOUS thieves targeted a Dudley charity's therapeutic garden, leaving it bare.

Summit House, based in North Street, had recently transformed a plot of waste land into a garden where service users, including those recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, the LGBT community and people living with HIV and Aids, could learn new skills and socialise.

Katy Baker, managing director, said: "We'd been working really hard on the space. We'd shielded the metal fence by putting up some bamboo matting, which made it more private and brought a sense of warmth and we had also started to upcycle donated furniture.

"In addition to it being a relaxing space for our service users, it was also an opportunity for us to grow herbs and vegetables, which we used during our weekly cooking sessions."

But in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday (August 28), the garden furniture and the bamboo fencing, which was held onto the metal railings using cable ties, were stolen.

Katy continued: "It's very frustrating. They took around £600 worth of materials trampled all over the plants in the process.

"It must have been premeditated as they came with tools. They would also have had a vehicle to take the stuff away, they couldn't have done it on foot."

The charity is now appealing for the community to help them rebuild the garden, with donations of garden furniture, bamboo, plant pots or anything else that would enhance the space being gratefully received.

Anyone who would like to help should call the charity on 01384 243 220 and ask for Katy or Steven Chand.

West Midlands Police is investigating the theft and anyone with information is urged to call 101.