FED-UP gardeners are patrolling their allotments with pitch forks and mobile phones in a bid to thwart vandals behind a series of attacks.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and police have also stepped in to offer help with security after a spate of incidents which have left garden sheds destroyed and ruined produce.

The association has invited council officials to the site to see at first hand the damage -- estimated by members to stand at thousands of pounds.

In the meantime association members have taken to police the site themselves.

Chairman of the Witton and Garden Allotment Association Vic Perry and gardener Jim Parkinson take it in turns to patrol the allotment during the evening in a bid to stave off vandals. Many of the members have mobile telephones so they can contact police as soon as anything happens.

Problems have been on-going at the Witton site, off Buncer Lane, for many years but allotment association members say recently it has been getting worse.

Vandals torched two allotments, causing more than £1,000 damage. One belonged to a pensioner who had been at the site for more than 23 years.

"It's heartbreaking to see. A lot of time and work went into that allotment," said Vic. "He is talking of giving it up but he doesn't know what he's going to do."

Vic and secretary Derek Rogerson want more help from Blackburn with Darwen Council, which leases the 60 or so plots.

"We need a proper security fence putting up around the site but we are getting nothing off the council," said Derek.

"We want to know where the money we give to the council is going. We put a lot in but get nothing back."

The site is mainly used by older people, and 29 of the plots are allocated to the disabled.

Derek, who has also been the victim of vandalism, said the random attacks were spoiling the harmless enjoyment of many.

"It is nice and peaceful round here and is full of good people, but this puts a lot of unrest among us," said Derek.

"We have mainly kept the attacks quiet but now we want the publicity because we want something done."

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said that the problem had been noted and that a meeting has been arranged with the tenants to discuss the situation and explore ways of improving security at the site. Police Inspector Judith Finney is also hoping to help. She said: "We are aware of the problems on the allotments and I will be attending the meeting to address the issues raised by the allotment holders.

"These people take a great pride in their plots and it must be heart-breaking for them when damage is done."