CHURCHYARD volunteers have spoken of their anger after a large wooden flower box was swiped from a cemetery.

Members of Friends of St Katherine’s Cemetery, in Canvey Road, spotted the trough had disappeared from the churchyard when they met to plant flowers in it.

Volunteers have been meeting every Friday since August to tidy up the overgrown graveyard, in Canvey Road, after relatives with loved ones buried there complained about long grass and rubbish.

Dave Blackwell, who heads up the group, is urging islanders to help them recover it.

He said: “The box was actually donated by one of our members, which makes it even more disappointing.

“I think somebody has taken it, and stealing from a church is the lowest thing to do, it’s very disappointing. We were all prepared to plant some flowers on Friday. The trough was still there on Thursday evening, and then it had disappeared.

“St Katherine’s is on a main road, so there has to be somebody who saw this because it was quite large and you would notice somebody walking with it.

“It’s upsetting for our members really, because they put so much in and on the whole their work is recognised and everybody can see we’ve made a good job of it.”

Mr Blackwell added: “There has been relatively little trouble at the yard, so that’s what makes it surprising.”

It’s not the first time volunteers have had obstacles put in their way while carrying out work at the graveyard.

Last month, blundering council contractors cut down an array of spring bulbs, bluebells and snowdrops planted in the autumn have been removed.

The flowers were removed by Pinnacle, a company employed by Castle Point Council.

Mr Blackwell said that the company is now working with volunteers to rectify the damage.

Rosemary de Boise, secretary of the Heritage Centre, which operates on the same site as St Katherine’s, said the building was badly damaged when thieves attempted to break in earlier this year.

Mrs de Boise added that fortunately nothing was stolen and they didn’t gain entry to the centre.

She said: “These two incidents have been the only bits of trouble that I can think of, and it has to be stopped.

“We had a smashed window when somebody tried to break in, but luckily they didn’t get anything. We have since boarded the windows up to stop it from happening again.

“It's so disappointing when somebody could target two groups who fund themselves, and have to pay to put things right like that."