A DISPLAY planted by schoolchildren in Ryde has been vandalised just three days before it was due to be judged for a competition.

The plants and flowers at Ryde St John’s Road station was planted over the weekend by children from Dover Park Primary School for a competition as part of the Ryde in Bloom festival on Thursday (July 4).

But yesterday morning (Monday), the plants and decorations were missing, despite a clear sign at the display reading that the work was “Designed planned and planted by Dover Park Primary School Community Kids”.

Bobby Lock, Community Rail development manager, said: “The children were entering the competition to make the line look better for visitors.

“What possesses these insane people? It makes me so mad.”

There has been an exceptional response from people keen to ensure the children do not have to withdraw from the competition.

Busy Bee Garden Centre has donated plants, Ryde Business Association has contributed money and TV star Alan Titchmarsh has offered his support.

“He heard about the story and he wanted to encourage the children,” Bobby said.

The children will be returning to the station tomorrow morning to rebuild their display.

Bobby said: “It’s gone from what was incredibly sad and really negative to a really happy story.

“The children are making posters - and this is the really sad part that they have to do this - that say ‘please don’t destroy our plants’.

“The plants that we got are glorious. They are going to have a bigger and better display and I just hope that the idiot that did it doesn’t go to the station and think ‘oh great, here’s more’."

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