A MAN who returned to Darwen to be with his dying mother has hit out at thieves who stole his garden bench.

Alan Stott, 65, of Hawthorne Avenue, was devastated when he discovered his prized seat had been taken.

Mr Stott bought the bench, worth £100, about a year ago and brought it back to the area last November when he moved from Swindon to look after his mother who died in December. His wife also died from cancer in December 1999.

Today he condemned the thieves, saying: "It's devastating. One minute it was there and all of a sudden its gone. It had been there all that time. I just don't understand.

"I was a professional gardener and I've worked really hard on my garden. I used to love sitting out and looking at the plants and everything. It's what kept me going.

"I was born and bred here and I'm not going to put up with this kind of behaviour. I only came back because of my mother and I wish I hadn't done now.

"Things just aren't going right. I've had plant pots smashed and my shed has been damaged."

The bench has been reported missing to the police at Darwen and if anyone has any information they should contact Darwen CID on 01254 353842.