A support worker who runs an allotment group for adults with learning difficulties has revealed her shock at finding their shed had been burned down.

Inez Cooke runs the group for residents of the Cardale Care supported living home in Thornbury.

The group meets at Daggs Allotments, the site of a number of recent arson attacks.

Having taken a break over Christmas, the group only just realised their shed was one of the ones affected when they arrived for their regular session last week.

Inez described what has happened as a ‘great shock’.

“We went down last week and there was nothing.

“You just would not expect it,” she said.

The group grows a variety of fruit and vegetables on the allotment and Inez said the high quality soil, lack of slugs and the fact it got the sun for most of the day made it a ‘great spot’ for gardening.

“It’s just incredibly friendly and supportive. People are always happy to give you tips.”

She said the residents enjoyed the physical work of digging with one member know to cry out with joy when doing so.

“They really enjoy it. They are really upset,” she added.

The group, which had been running for about a year, lost all their tools in the fire, including a newly purchased pair of shears which they barely got chance to use.

Without the money to buy news tools or a new shed, the group will have limited gardening opportunities in the future.

They do hope to join in with other projects in the future though.

In total four sheds were burnt down in three separate arson attacks at the allotments on December 14, 15 and 17.

Another who lost a shed was John Barber who relied on the shed to store his tools as he is unable to carry them long distances.

“This is my hobby and they have destroyed it,” he said at the time.

A fundraising page has been set up to finance replacement tools and sheds for the victims of the arson attacks at Daggs Allotments.

To donate go to bit.ly/2AtuVO8.