Wakefield family left counting the cost as arsonists torch allotment site

Helen and Adrian Armstrong from the Peacock Estate have only had their plot on Dewsbury Road just a few months, had built their shed from scratch and were hoping to grow their own food with help from their hree children.

But on the night of Sunday, May 10, it is thought that yobs smashed panels to gain access to the shed, lit the stove and then set fire to items causing the blaze to take hold.

Mrs Armstrong, 39, said: “The morning after when we got the call we were just in tears.

“We love gardening and we just wanted to produce our own food and were getting our kids involved.

“My 11-year-old daughter sat and cried and to see that rips your heart out.

“If they had broken and taken all of the tools it wouldn’t have been this bad, now we are having to start from scratch.

“We’ve put the damage at around £1,500 with everything that we have lost.

“It’s like an extension to your garden and we have put hours and hours into this.”

However, in the days that followed around 15 other sheds were broken into or vandalised.

“The problem is that there’s a lot of access points,” said Mrs Armstrong.

She added: “It could do with security fencing.

“There’s been the odd break-in now and then but nothing like this.”

“People are fuming about it, they are extremely annoyed and frustrated.

“Everybody is absolutely gutted, and they are trying to help us get back on our feet.”

Police are investigating the incidents.

Anyone with any information about the break-ins or fire should call police on 101.