Wildlife experts have hit out after a species of lady orchid so rare it is not seen in many UK sites outside Kent has been dug up and taken away.

The species (Orchis purpurea var albida) was swiped from the Yockletts Bank nature reserve run by Kent Wildlife Trust.

Plant experts from the Trust recorded the specimen on a visit to the site near Canterbury on June 5 - only to find it had been removed when they returned two days later.

The Trust’s East Kent Downlands Warden, Peter Forrest, said: “This is an unforgiveable act of desecration of a fragile wildlife habitat.

"The lady orchid lives up to its name and is a beautiful Kent speciality.

“Picking, uprooting or damaging rare wild plants such as the lady orchid, is against the law and may incur a heavy fine.

"I urge anyone who has witnessed such an act to report it to Kent Wildlife Trust (01622 662012), Natural England or the Police.”

A spokesman confirmed the matter had been passed on to the police.