VOLUNTEERS at a community garden were left empty-handed when they went to collect their potato crop... and discovered a thief had already dug them up!

The garden, in Cuthill Park, Prestonpans, had been planted with vegetables by volunteers.

But when they went to collect the potatoes from the raised beds, they found someone had beaten them to it.

Zoe Inglis, from Friends of Cuthill Park, said: “We went out with a bag to collect them and came back with a handful.” The community garden is part of a regeneration of the park carried out by the Friends, who have spent seven years improving the 1.6 hectare open space.

With the help of volunteers they hold regular tidy-ups and maintain the gardens, which include an orchard and raised beds for cultivation.

The charity is currently working with East Lothian Council to provide new play equipment in the park.