Flowers, planted lovingly by pupils in Deal, have been ripped from their beds in a spate of vandalism or theft.

Deal town councillors Trevor Bond and Wayne Elliott made the discovery on the seafront at the weekend and are outraged.

In June, pupils from Goodwin Academy, formerly Castle Community College, planted them ahead of the Deal in Bloom competition, helped by members of Deal Rotary Club.

Cllr Elliott, who also helped, said: “The young people of our town have been let down by either vandals or by someone who thinks that these flowers would look better in their garden for them to look at rather than the people of Deal to admire.

“I think the latter is a possibility because if vandals had done this then they would have thrown the flowers on the ground around the planter and we did not see any sign of plants on the ground plus they would have thrown all the flowers out not just take two rows of flowers out of the planter.”

The aim of the planting was to brighten up the seafront and make it more attractive.

Cllr Bond posted a picture on Facebook which was met with a number of comments from residents expressing their outrage.

Cllr Bond said: “It was really sad to see flowers removed from the flower boxes on the seafront.

“Students do not deserve to have this happen to them when they are doing something good for the community, nor does the Deal community who work so hard in making the town great.

“We now have the beach shelters being painted and it is a pity to see the flowers disappearing from the flower boxes.

“Many people have worked hard making the foreshore in Deal nice and yet there is an element working against this which is sad.”

It is believed it happened between Wednesday and Sunday.

Maxteds Pets and Garden shop in Deal High Street has kindly offered to donate some plants to restore the flower box.

Cllr Bond added: “This is not the first time that Maxteds have assisted Cllr Elliott and myself with the flower boxes and it is good to see a local business coming forward to make Deal a better place.”

On Tuesday, the councillors re-planted the flowers.