Vandals ripped up plants and smashed greenhouses at an allotment site, causing outrage among gardeners.

Six sheds were broken into and beehives overturned at Weston Drive allotments in Stanmore on October 15.

Plot owners were sickened by what they saw the following day, although nothing had been stolen.

Sheila Hazell, 66, of Dobbin Close, Harrow, has owned a plot at the site for 26 years and is secretary of Belmont Horticultural Society.

She said: "They left complete devastation. The site was destroyed. It is absolutely disgusting and unfortunately a sign of the times. Innocent people enjoy tending to their plots and this is their hobby.

"The greenhouses have no glass left and plants have been completely destroyed. I know one gentleman who had just planted an apple tree and it was completely pulled out. It is really upsetting."

It is believed the thugs tried breaking in to Belmont Horticultural Society trading hut, which is also on the site, but did not succeed.

Plot owners spent the weekend tidying the plots and replanting.

Mrs Hazell said: "Everyone has tried to keep their spirits up and spent the weekend trying to sort out the site. I just hoped they got stung by the bees in the hives when they legged it. Luckily nothing was actually stolen but we are going to have to fork out money to replace plants and glass."

This is the not the first time the allotments have been trashed and owners have contacted Harrow Council to see if it will put up fencing to enclose the plots.

Mrs Hazell said: "Earlier this year the same thing happened. This time we found beer cans nearby. Something needs to be put up to stop these people from gaining access. If the council could put up fencing it might stop these thugs from getting in."

Georgia Weston, chair-woman of Harrow in Leaf, which works to protect green space and allotments in the borough, said: "We were informed of the vandalism and the committee is devastated to hear the allotments were destroyed. People have spent months and months growing their vegetables and for mindless thugs to just destroy it in one night is disgusting."

Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), responsible for environment services, said: "Last week, I met nearly 200 allotment tenants to ask their opinion on the council's allotment strategy and also find out their priorities for this service.

"One common concern was security and over the coming weeks we will be meeting the 33 allotment site representatives to find out how to best address this problem.

"We will also be taking this opportunity to obtain information to ensure the council's £50,000 allotment investment is spent on the areas which matter most to tenants."