A THIEF has been branded despicable after wrecking two floral displays at a church flower festival by stealing from exhibits.

From one stand several Dinky toys were stolen and at a second the thief walked out of St Andrew's Church at Kirkby Malzeard, with a miniature wheelbarrow, artificial grapes and five decorative apples.

Stalwart flower arranger Mrs Rita Percival was upset when she went to show her floral expertise to a friend, only to find the 14 inch-long, eight inch-high wheelbarrow missing. Left behind were two carrots, a piece of broccoli, a potato and a green pepper.

The miniture wheelbarrow had a sentimental value being regularly used in Mrs Percival's floral setpieces for which she has won a reputation locally.

The pensioner had worked on the display as part of a wider floral exhibition for a jubilee flower festival.

Mrs Percival, a member of West Tanfield Flower Club, said: "I couldn't believe that someone would walk into a church and steal part of the displays. It was a despicable thing to do, particularly in a church.

"Later I felt sorry for the people who had done this because I wondered why they could not find something better to to," she said.

The Dinky toys had enhanced a display created by Kirkby Motors, the local garage and filling station.

A church official said: "No one can remember seeing anything suspicious. But one theory is that the items could have been stolen during the comings and goings in church."

Canon Howard Garside, a retired clergyman who preaches at churches in the Fountains Group of Parishes, has issued a plea for the return of the missing items.

"It is very sad and upsetting when something like this happens in a church," he said.

He has circulated a picture of the wheelbarrow in a bid to secure its return.

But Mrs Percial says she has given up hope of getting it back and has not even reported the theft to police.