A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER has been left overwhelmed by the generosity of local people and a Cwmbran garden centre donating flowers after her beloved garden was trashed by vandals.

Ann Jones, aged 76, posted a message on facebook to warn other people about what had happened after her garden was left severely damaged.

She said vandals had pulled plants out of her hanging baskets and out of borders.

To Mrs Jones's surprise several people who had seen the posting rounded together with Sunnydale Garden Centre to replace her plants.

Mrs Jones, of Windsor Road, said: “I only posted the message to warn people as I was really upset and didn’t want other to have their flowers taken.

“My great grandson loves the garden and he brought me a gift yesterday to try and cheer me up. I have always been known for my garden, it’s not easy and takes hard graft to keep so you can imagine how I felt.”

Mrs Jones has lived in the Fairwater area for 40 years with her husband after they moved to the area for work. She also spends her time with one of her daughters who is disabled.

Karen McDonough of nearby Aaron Court is one of the people who donated plans and said: “They left her garden severely damaged, which must have been a horrible thing to wake up to. So we took plants up there and I spoke to Jason at Sunnydale who was really helpful.

“It’s amazing how all of our little contributions can make a big difference and hopefully it will restore some of her faith in the local community. We have also had some people give financial contributions and said they were looking into getting CCTV.”

Sunnydale shop manager Kelly Samuel added: “It was heartbreaking. When we heard about it we were only more than happy to help, she’s an elderly woman who appreciates gardening like many people here do.

“Gardening isn’t easy and to see the state people disgustingly left it in meant we felt we glad to do something.”