POWER tools have been stolen from a community allotment in Whiston where school children have sessions to learn all about the outdoor environment and growing their own vegetables.

The allotment, which is over 3,000 sq metres, is based on school grounds at Halsnead primary school in Pennywood Drive.

Equipment believed to be worth around £4,000 was taken from a container on the allotments, which have been in use since 2011.

Chairperson of the allotments, Tina Cinnamond, said: "We are devastated; it's the children that will suffer.

"On the Monday (March 7) keys were taken from our office while we were on site and on Tuesday morning we think somebody came back and emptied our storage container of petrol power tools, lawnmowers, a strimmer, a blower, a chainsaw, hedgecutters, and more.

"We are insured but it will only cover about a quarter of the cost of the lost items. We rely totally on funding and have not got money to replace it ourselves.

"We work closely with the school and teach the children about growing their own veg, about nature and the environment and have just started to run forest school.

"Without our tools we are unable to maintain the site and the children will not be able to use it anymore.

"We are looking for any donations of second hand tools or anything which could help us to keep our site open to the children."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed they were investigating the matter.

He said: "The theft of various commercial power tools is believed to have occurred some time between 5pm on Monday and 8am on Tuesday."

Officers were making enquiries around CCTV footage and carrying out forensic tests.

Anyone with information or who is approached with power tools they believe may be stolen should contact Merseyside Police on 101.

To donate gardening equipment to the allotments, contact Tina Cinnamond via email at tina.cinnamond@googlemail.com.