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A pumpkin being used as part of a guess-the-weight competition to raise money for a hospice has been stolen in the dead of night.
The pumpkin was taken from Meopham PYO farm, in Ifield Road, on Saturday evening.
People could guess the weight of the Halloween favourite for £2 a go and be in with a chance of winning a Christmas tree. The money raised was destined to go to the ellenor hospice in Gravesend .
The farm had previously raised £916 for the charity by donating 20p from every sunflower sale made last month.
However, at around 9.30 on Saturday night the farm's CCTV caught someone snatching the pumpkin, along with others.
Staff are now appealing to help identify the individual.
Becky Brown, who runs the farm and has had three relatives cared for at the hospice, said: "We could see a car pull up, but it didn't come close enough so we could see a number plate.
"One person gets out, runs across the yard in front of the tea rooms and a couple of minutes later you can see them walk back with the pumpkins.
"The only reason we put it on Facebook is because they took the charity one – we wouldn't have even noticed if they'd taken another one because we trust everybody.
"It was just such disappointment – as a family we have personal experience with ellenor's.
"The fact that someone was nasty enough to take something so small in value really, I hope they are in really, really, desperate need and are hard up to steal that.
"Ellenor does such amazing work, and it's like stealing from a charity box."
The pumpkin competition was the farm's entry to ellenor's Accumulator Challenge, where businesses and organisations use innovative ways to turn £50 into more in four months.
Ellenor provides hospice treatment to support families facing terminal illness. Adults living in Gravesham, Dartford and Swanley receive care either in their own home, at the hospice in Northfleet or a local care home.
The Children’s Hospice Care service is provided in the comfort of the family home and spans across North and West Kent and the London Borough of Bexley.
Supporter engagement officer for the charity, Leah Poppy said: "We are extremely disappointed to hear of the pumpkin being stolen from Meopham Pick Your Own for their guess the weight of the pumpkin competition.
"Meopham Pick Your Own is taking part in this year’s Accumulator Challenge for the first time and are very keen to raise as much money as possible in support of ellenor hospice care.
"This lovely local family run farm are an incredible supporter of ellenor and support us in so many different ways throughout the year.
"If you are looking for a place to go pumpkin picking with the family and would like to support Meopham Pick Your Own and ellenor’s Accumulator Challenge head on down to the farm where you will be able to pick up a pumpkin and see the other activities they are doing to raise much needed funds for ellenor."
More at ellenor.org/
