Police are appealing for witnesses following the burglary.

Burglars raided a social enterprise which helps vulnerable people in Norwich and stole equipment worth £15,000.

Mow and Grow in Bowthorpe, which helps ex-offenders through gardening projects, was targeted by burglars over the weekend between 3pm on Saturday and 7am on Monday.

Suspects used an acetylene torch to cut padlocks to three large metal containers on the Bowthorpe Hall Road site, used to store gardening equipment.

They stripped the containers of lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and cutters.

It is the second time the building has been targeted.

In September suspects attempted to break into the containers but failed.

A Ford Transit van parked at Bowthorpe Youth and Community Centre, where Mow and Grow is based, was also damaged

Investigating officer, PC Andy Tomlinson, said: “The equipment stolen is used for community based garden projects, which inevitably will suffer as a result of the incident.

“We believe more than one person and a vehicle of some sort would have been used during the incident, given the amount of equipment and tools which were taken.

“The actions of the offenders are deplorable; targeting a centre used by many people to improve the community they live in.

“I would urge anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the stolen property to contact police.”

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or noticed any suspicious activity in the area.

Anyone with information should contact PC Tomlinson at Earlham Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.