RESIDENTS of a village near Newport are being asked to keep an eye out for thieves who keep taking flowers from donated planters.

Marshfield community council commissioned five large wooden flower planters throughout the village, as part of its improvements initiative, sponsored by Greenmoor Nurseries and L&R Landscapes.

Phil Thomas from Greenmoor Nurseries paid for the tubs and plants to go in them, and planted begonias, marigolds, pansies and cordylines[CORR] back in May.

But within weeks he noticed that some of the flowers were going missing.

"They were looking nice," said Mr Thomas, 46, for whom Greenmoor Nurseries is a family business.

"The cordylines cost £10 each so some of them are not cheap. We would just like people to keep an eye out for whoever is doing this, because by the time a lot of people notice, I have been round and replanted.

"If I don't replant it looks bad on us because we have got our name on the tubs," he said. "We are trying to make the village look a bit better but there has always got to be somebody who spoils it."

Mr Thomas believes 20 plants have now been taken from the planters.

Kirstie Evans, chairwoman of Marshfield community council said that in some cases even the compost has been taken.

"We would like to raise awareness of this and ask local people to keep an eye on them and report any suspicious behaviour to Gwent Police," she said.