SECURITY is being stepped up at South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh after a spate of thefts.

Flowers and plants have been pulled up and stolen during the summer from the railway’s gardens.

And at the weekend, a group of youths were spotted on the track near where the charity stores some of its tools and police say a shed, in the Staverton Riverford area, was broken into.

It is not yet known if anything was stolen but the youths were disturbed by railway volunteers who chased after them but they scarpered from the scene in a car which sped off.

Police are investigating and working with the railway to catch the culprits and bring a halt to thefts.

And they are keen to hear from any witnesses of anyone who has information.

Patrols of the area are being conducted by officers and the railway is improving its security measures.

PC Will Young said: ‘Over the summer period there has been an ongoing issue with flowers and plants being pulled up and on some occasions stolen.

‘This is causing a real nuisance to the gardening team and the volunteers of the trust who spend hours of their time making the railway look as nice as it does and operate a fantastic venue for locals and tourists.’

Trust spokesman Dick Wood said: ‘We have had some issues with periodic bouts of vandalism.

‘It is saddening and disappointing as we are a charity and the gardening team work very hard.

‘We want people to come and enjoy our gardens but we don’t want them taking them home.’

The gardens are in the running for another Britain in Bloom award this year.

Mr Wood confirmed there had been an incident on the line at the weekend following a heritage transport gala.

One of the trains was running an enhanced timetable when it came across a group of youths on the track next to where tools were being stored.

They soon fled when they realised there was a train.

It stopped and volunteers pursued the youths but without success.

Checks were being made to establish whether anything had been taken.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101 or email [email protected] quoting crime number CR/064106 which refers to the shed break-in.