Thousands of pounds worth of Christmas trees have been stolen from businesses near Newent.

Dozens of trees were taken from Hartpury Post Office and Trioscape Garden Centre, while others were left at the entrance to Staunton Garden Centre after the thieves were disturbed.

Trees worth around £650 were snatched during broad daylight from Hartpury Post Office.

"The boss's daughter sold a tree to someone at 2.10pm that day but when they came out at 3pm a load of other trees had gone," said Post Office counter assistant Siobhan Mullinger.

"They took all the best trees and left only the cheap ones behind.

"They weren't insured or anything so we will have to take this on the chin.

"We're not buying any more trees in, either, so next year we will just have to take extra security measures."

She added: "Vic Smith the owner is so trusting. He wouldn't have expected anything like this to happen."

The trees were taken on Sunday, December 9.

Approximately 20 trees are thought to have been taken from Trioscape in Highleadon sometime during the night of Tuesday, December 11.

An attempt was also made to take trees from Staunton Garden Centre, on Ledbury Road, sometime during Friday night.

Lynn Lewis, who owns the centre with husband Brian, said: "There were a dozen trees found at the bottom of the drive.

"We think they were getting ready to load them into their vehicle and were disturbed."

Trees were also stolen from a field at the rear of a garden

centre in Highleadon and £2,000 worth of trees and wreaths were taken from Over Farm Market on December 4.

Information about the thefts can be given to police by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 89 of December 12.

You can also give information anonymously by contacting the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org">www.crimestoppers-uk.org .

You may receive a reward

if someone is arrested and charged.