POLICE have been called to catch yobs who are damaging and stealing young trees.

Witham Tree Group is made up of volunteers who plant trees around the town, including areas in Humber Road and Spa Road.

Over the past two years, about 1,000 trees at Witham Rugby Club have been stolen or damaged.

Barry Fleet, chairman of the Witham Tree Group which works alongside Witham Town Council, said: "We plant about 20 large trees in the winter season and protect these with large cages.

"They are in theory out of reach of vandals.

"We also plant tree whips and they are much more accessible, we have had persistent vandalism problems which is very frustrating.

"The incident at the rugby club was much more extreme as the plants were stolen.

"We have volunteers providing their time for free, and it's not just for the visual impact, we are also trying to improve the environment."

There have been three or four separate incidents of vandalism.

Mr Fleet said: "It's incredibly stupid, we thought because it was becoming so persistent the police needed to know about it.

"We have about half a dozen volunteers who are trying to improve our town but there are other people who are happy to damage it."

In November 2015 Witham Tree Group, with the help of other community groups, planted 1,000 plants along the northern boundary fence of Witham Rugby Club.

Essex Police said: "Within days several of the plants had been taken.

"A week or two on and many of the canes and guards were trashed.

"By the end of that winter all 1,000 plants, their canes and guards had been trashed, many of them probably ridden over by bikes."

Despite replacing the trees and guards, they are still being targeted.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.