I AM utterly disgusted by the thieves who have stolen three cherry blossom trees from the grounds of Derian House children's hospice, in Chorley.

These were trees planted by the parents of children who have died.

Some friend and I recently completed a mountain trek in the Brecon Beacons and the money we raised will be going to Derian House, and I would be very pleased if some of it was used to replace these trees and, maybe, to plant some more.

How anybody could steal from a children's hospice is beyond belief and I would say to the thieves: If you have any guts at all, take the trees back, even if you have to skulk around under the cover of darkness!

DAVE BOWMAN, Coleridge Street, Blackburn.

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