COPS are searching for a green-fingered tea-leaf who stole a prominent Selkirk plant.

Organisers of Blooming Selkirk have been taking great pride in their town centre planters and hanging baskets over recent years.

And they have big plans for this coming spring and summer following fundraising donations from local groups.

But last month a large centre-piece cordyline plant was snatched from one of the High Street displays.

Judith Thomson from Blooming Selkirk said: "The cordyline was our pretty centre piece.

"On the grand scheme of things we haven't done badly when it comes to damage and thefts from our displays.

"I thought perhaps it was some avid plant collector who had taken it, but since then I've been told about a gang of youngsters who have been causing damage around the town."

Outgoing community cop Conal McEwan confirmed that there has been an upturn in the number of calls about youths causing damage.

He said: "We have received a large number of calls about mischievous youths in and around the town centre.

"It's mostly just rowdiness and we have a fair idea of who is doing this.

"If anyone has information about the plant or anything else they should call 101."

Selkirk Community Council was told that progress is being made with the Blooming Selkirk group.

As well as donations from several local organisations towards the purchase of plants, the volunteers have also teamed up with High School pupils to grow flowers from seed.

Ms Thomson added: We are doing a project with the pupils to germinate and grow plants.

"We have also been in touch with Philiphaugh Nurseries about the number of plants we'll need for this year's baskets and planters."