PRIZE-WINNING leek growers had their patch sabotaged hours before their latest competition.

David Evans, 40, and Malcolm Conaway, 29, arrived at their allotment to prepare for today's show at the Leadgate Working Men's Club, County Durham.

But to their despair they found their competition leeks had been pulled up and slashed with a knife, ruling the batch out of any show.

Mr Evans, who is the vice-chairman of the group organising the Leadgate show, said: "I cannot believe how vindictive someone can be.

"This is just faceless vandalism, none of the leeks can be used. This is months of time and effort just gone."

The pair, who have been showing vegetables for a number of years, believe the attacker got in over a fence near a neighbouring allotment.

They believe they have been specifically targeted as other allotments were left untouched.

Mr Evans said: "We have been singled out.

"From what we can see other allotments were not damaged, just ours.

"This hasn't been done to win a show it is either down to jealously or pure spite."

Working together Mr Evans and Mr Conaway have won competitions in the past, the most recent being the Traveller's Rest Show on Saturday.

Police are investigating.