Thieves have stolen 17 rose bushes from a memorial garden that many people use to scatter the ashes of loved ones.

Between Sunday evening and lunchtime on Monday, Cornerhouse Methodist Church in Great Horton was hit by the theft, which church officials say will leave many people “very upset.”

Now gardeners at the church have to decide whether to replace the bushes, and may resort to installing security cameras to prevent similar thefts.

They feel the crime is more likely to be down to a “rogue gardener” rather than an act of vandalism.

The garden was a burial site until the 1970s, when the gravestones were removed and the overgrown land turfed over, although remains were never removed. Since then many church-goers have used the garden to inter or scatter the ashes of relatives, and many of the rose bushes have been planted in memory of these people.

Brian Crossland, property secretary at the church, believes the rose bushes must have been taken by someone who came prepared, as the logistics of removing 17 bushes seemed to rule out an opportunistic theft. The thieves were also believed to have tried to steal more bushes and shrubs, but gave up after finding the roots were too deep.

Mr Crossland added: “There is no trace of the bushes. They have been totally lifted out of the ground. We occasionally get people who walk past and flick the flowers off, but nothing like this. This isn’t some vandals, maybe it is a rogue gardener.

“Over the years a lot of the flowers have been given by people in memory of loved ones. Some people have buried ashes and planted a rose bush on top. I’m sure these people will be very upset when they hear about this.

“We’re looking to put cameras up for this and our car park. It would be a shame if we have to resort to this.

“It is not the monetary value of the flowers, it’s the fact they were planted in memory of people”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Inquiries are ongoing, and we would appeal for information from anyone who may have seen anyone in the garden or anything unusual at this time. They can call the police non-emergency number 101.”