'HANDS off our flowers' is the message to thieves from Marlow's appalled Mayor after eight plants were stolen.

The flowers, located near the train station, were one of a number of floral displays put together by Marlow Town Council as part of its drive to make it a more vibrant and attractive place to live and visit.

Mayor Suzanne Brown said: "I was absolutely appalled to hear that eight plants have been stolen from the newly landscaped and planted area at Station Approach.

"As part of the ten year vision the residents wanted a floral town and it has taken a long time for the council to get permission and funds to tidy up this piece of land. Obviously the persons concerned are only thinking of themselves and not the town."

She had this message for the thieves: "Leave our floral town alone."

The theft came just days after Marlow was assessed by judges for the Britain in Bloom awards.

Cllr Brown said: "It was lucky that it happened after the judges came on the Monday last week.

"But if people keep nicking plants at this rate we won't have much of a floral town will we?

"It's not too visible to people who don't know it but if it keeps happening it will be because it will be empty."

She said: "There's anger at the town council because it cost us a lot of money to make the town look as nice as it is and for one individual to do this is terrible. It's always the few that spoil it for the many."

It is not the first occasion in recent times that Marlow has been hit by flower thieves.

Last July two troughs of planters with pots, which cost £250 in total, were stolen from under the 'welcome to Marlow signs'. These were also paid for by the town council.

Two months earlier a batch of geraniums for a special Union Jack floral display in the town centre were taken.

The Marlow Chamber of Trade display cost £3,500.

The chamber was the victim of plant thieves in 2011 and 2010 as well.