A GRANDFATHER today claimed his faith in humanity was restored after Good Samaritans donated plants to replace those destroyed by vandals.Ted Proctor and his wife Hazel, of Penryn Road, Kesgrave, were heartbroken when they discovered bedding plants from their beloved garden had been pulled up and cruelly strewn across their lawn.

A GRANDFATHER today claimed his faith in humanity was restored after Good Samaritans donated plants to replace those destroyed by vandals.

Ted Proctor and his wife Hazel, of Penryn Road, Kesgrave, were heartbroken when they discovered bedding plants from their beloved garden had been pulled up and cruelly strewn across their lawn.

Mr Proctor was so incensed when he was woken by the noise of yobs destroying his garden that he bravely jumped on his bike and chased them.

They managed to escape but police have launched a hunt for them and have urged neighbours to be vigilant.

The Evening Star has also offered a £500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

After reading about their bad luck in The Evening Star, workers at Victoria Nursery in Kettlebaston Way, Ipswich, decided to donate shrubs to replace the ruined ones.

Managers at the B&Q store in Euro Retail Park also offered to help out as the Proctor's son Martin works there. Together, the donations amount to nearly £100 worth of plants.

Mr Proctor, a part-time caretaker at Cedarwood Primary School, was overwhelmed by the kindness and claimed he was looking forward to rebuilding his garden.

The 66-year-old said: “This has restored my faith in humanity to think that people would take the trouble to be that generous.

“Hopefully our garden will soon be restored back to normality. I hope other gardeners are not put off by our experience.”

Mrs Proctor, 65, added: “We are surprised and pleased by the kindness we have been shown. We also want to thank The Evening Star for their help.”

Ian May, proprietor of Victoria Nursery, said: “We read about their plight and wanted to do something to help. It is terrible when things like this happen so we wanted to go some way towards making it a bit better.”

The Proctors, who have two grown up sons and five grandchildren, said they have never experienced the type of anti-social behaviour which led to their garden being so badly damaged at 3am on Wednesday in all of the 46 years they have been living there.

If you saw anything or can help police with their enquiries call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or the Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01473 334980.

Have you experienced any vandalism or anti-social behaviour in your area? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.