DROITWICH Spa Town Council and the police have stepped in to secure an allotment blighted by a string of thefts and damage.
Property was stolen from sheds and greenhouses targeted by thieves on The Westwood Lodge allotments throughout July and August.
The plot-holders also suffered bad luck when a falling tree from a lightning strike caused damage.
The thunderstorm felled a large tree on adjacent land owned by Westwood Lodge Estate, blocking the nearby public footpath route leading from Westwood Road.
Strikes also damaged the allotment’s perimeter fencing and dropped high-voltage power cables.
A blaze broke out and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were called, while National Grid brought standby generators whilst repairs were made and the power network in part of the west ward was restored.
Although there were no injuries, the fallen tree lay twisted and unstable and was used by thieves as a means to illegally access the site to break into sheds and cause criminal damage.
Those who accessed the site have not yet been identified.
Droitwich Town Council contractors removed the fallen tree from the public footpath and reinstated the boundary fencing in July.
The authority is also supporting tenants by liaising with the dedicated rural crime officer at West Mercia Police and other measures, including replacing locks on gates to the site.
A site meeting with police took place on Tuesday.
