A grandmother has been left devastated after she was forced to withdraw from a community garden competition when thieves stole statues from outside her home just 48 hours of being installed.

Linda Meek and her son spent hours creating an eye-catching entry for the 2015 Front Garden Competition run by the Trustees of South Leytonstone Area Development Association (SLADA).

They used statues from Miss Meek’s late mother’s own garden and painted them in bright colours to create a scene for children to enjoy.

However, just two days later the 62-year-old woke up to find the statues had been stolen from her home in Crownfield Road.

“It was never about winning the competition, I just wanted to take part," Miss Meek said.

"I thought if it would encourage people to do up their gardens it would be good for the area.

“I thought I would make a nice bright kiddies garden.

"My mum had some ornaments in her garden and she has passed away now but I thought they would be nice.

“When we finished it all the little ones were pointing at it on their way to school, it was lovely.

“Then one morning we got up and they were gone.”

A neighbour said they had spotted two men in the garden with a pram, who fled when questioned but are believed to have returned.

Miss Meek’s son put some cameras up at the front of the property, which did not deter the thieves as they returned for the smaller ornaments.

“The thing that makes me saddest is they were in my mum’s garden for 12 years and I didn’t even have them for 48 hours," Miss Meek added.

“The big ones were so heavy I couldn’t lift them.

"It’s such a shame.”

Some of the smaller ornaments were returned to the garden after word spread in the community, but the large ornaments are still missing.

“Six months ago had an iron wheelbarrow out some plants in it, that went within a day.

"It’s a shame when you can’t even make an effort in your own front garden,” Miss Meek said.

Among the items missing are statues of a bulldog, a Dalmatian, a tiger and a bird bath among others.