A pair of green-fingered sisters have been re-united with their ornamental gnomes after thieves stripped their garden.

Ivy and Mary Whiteley, who spend everyday tending to their garden, were heartbroken earlier this week when they woke to find pot plants, hanging baskets, gnomes, ornaments, a bird table and a bench had been taken.

But neighbours spotted the stolen items hidden in hedges around the Sutton estate in Tyersal and at a nearby old people's home.

Ivy, 78, of Dudley Street, said: "My sister checked the garden in the morning and all the garden stuff was gone - there was nothing left.

"I felt sick when I saw it. Lots of our ornaments have been given as Christmas and birthday presents and it wasn't fair that someone else could just take it."

The sisters, who are both unmarried and have lived together all their lives, said their garden shed, which was left empty, had been broken into several times.

They now plan to fit a six-foot high gate to try and keep thieves out.

Ivy said: "We have five security lights fitted but it seems they were more of a help than a hindrance to the thieves.

"It makes you feel frightened to go out."

After the sisters' belongings were rounded up police loaded them into a van and took the haul back to their garden.

PC Daniel Shiel said the plants and garden furniture had probably been hidden to be picked up at a later date and sold on at a car boot sale.

He said: "It must have taken at least half an hour to steal all the stuff, there was that much.

"Although we get very little crime in this area gardeners need to be aware that this is going on and be careful."

He added a resident had reported three men acting suspiciously at 1.30am on Tuesday morning.

Anyone who has any information about the theft is asked to contact Dudley Hill police help desk on (01274) 376676.

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