'Moronic' thieves steal bench from church gardens

The bench, screwed into fixing posts, is believed to have been stolen from St Thomas’s Church in Wednesfield on Sunday.

It had been donated to the church in 2016 as an award for the village’s Wednesfield in Bloom project and sat in the garden of remembrance.

Councillor Phil Bateman said: “There’s a lot of effort that’s been made in taking it away.

"The person or persons who have done this really are displaying traits that can only be described as moronic.

“Everybody is up in arms about it. The people who are involved in Wednesfield in Bloom and the church want their bench back.”

The bench was last seen at 1pm on Sunday when a group of volunteers from this year’s Wednesfield in Bloom project sat on it.

“People are rightly outraged and demoralised,” said Mr Bateman.

“If anybody does know who has perpetrated this act they really ought to call the police.”

Nick Watson, St Thomas’s Church rector, said: “It’s a great shame, all the more at a time when so many people are putting effort into improving the area of Wednesfield. It’s immensely frustrating.

"The bench was donated to the church by local residents and was located in a sensory garden put together by the church’s toddler group.

“It’s hard to imagine why anyone would do it.

“We have had offers of donations for a replacement bench, it’s a sign of the community rallying around.”

A post on the church’s Facebook page read: “If anyone has seen our lovely bench at the back of the centre, in the children’s garden, then please let us know. We’d like it back.

“Someone has gone to quite a lot of effort to remove it.”

Anyone with information about the incident or the bench’s whereabouts should contact police on 101.