Volunteers have issued an appeal for information after green-fingered thieves stole wild plants from a nature reserve.

A witness reported seeing two men and a woman with sacks full of wild cabbages and rock samphire which had been cut from plants at the Folkestone Warren on Wednesday.

It is believed they stole nine bags from the reserve, using a sack barrow to carry the bags away to a white refrigerated van.

Folkestone Warren is maintained by volunteers from the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, and partnership manager Kirk Alexander says it is illegal to remove the plants without permission from the landowner.

Mr Alexander said that wild cabbage and samphires might be common around Dover and Folkestone, but nationally they are scarce.

He said: “The incident has been reported to the police. Collecting wild plants on such a large scale spoils the place for local people and for visitors.

“It is a criminal offence to damage a site of special scientific interest such as Folkestone Warren, which is nationally important for its wildlife and landscape.”

He added that any suspicious activity can be reported to the partnership on 01304 241806 or by calling the police on 101.