Plants potted by children along river ripped out

The containers were left empty, with soil scattered across the ground

Plants displayed in baskets by children along a river have been ripped up overnight, according to a renewables hub team.

Projekt Renewable, next to Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, discovered this morning that £1,000-worth of plants in 80 containers along the River Freshney had been pulled out.

Each container had been personalised with the name of the child who planted it, as part of an initiative sponsored by the Crown Estate to encourage children to learn about their natural habitat.

The renewables team has now issued a plea for local people and organisations to donate so that the boxes can be filled back in.

'Lost for words'

North East Lincolnshire Council is reviewing CCTV and looking at what measures can be taken to improve security in the area.

Projekt Renewable director Richard Askam said: "I am simply lost for words. The children are going to be devastated when they hear about what has happened.

"This act may have destroyed the planters themselves, but it will not have tarnished the memory the children have of creating them or the skills they learnt on the day.

"People may well be quick to say, 'Well, what did you expect?' but if no-one tried, nothing will change."

He added: "We will keep replanting, and keep working to make our pocket of Grimsby something special for the people who created these planters in the first place."

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