A green-fingered thief has broken a pensioner's heart by stealing flowers from her beloved window box.

Anna Kearns-Thompson, was enjoying a relaxing evening on Saturday, March 24, when she heard rustling outside her house in Prairie Road, Battersea.

Thinking it was a cat she ignored it, but when the 63-year-old went into her front garden the next morning her beloved pansies had been lifted out of their window box.

She said: "What does it say about society today, when a thief comes in the night to steal a pensioner's flowers from her little window box? What kind of person would do that?

"I live a frugal life, but the one thing I love is to put a few flowers on my windowsill and tiny wall garden, so neighbours and passers-by can look and maybe smile.

"It's a feel-good thing for me too, and as I suffer with depression and the colours cheers me up.

"If it had been kids and they had done it out of devilment I would understand but I assume an adult did it because there was absolutely no mess."

But Mrs Kearns-Thompson's tale does at least have a happy ending because her neighbours have rallied round to support her.

She said: "One lady dropped a little note round with £20 in it saying she noticed they were missing and how much she loved them.

"Then another man came round and offered to buy me some more which was lovely.

"When the flowers were stolen I told my husband William that I wanted to move away from London because I was so upset.

"But because of the generosity of everyone I've spoken to, it has restored my faith in humanity.

"But I hope the person who stole them reads this story and feels very guilty about what they did."