THIEVES, who stole an 81-year-old floral champion s hanging baskets, succeeded in their attempt to stop her winning a Wisbech in Bloom competition for the third year running. Dorothy Mills had to settle for joint-third place in the small in-town garden co

THIEVES, who stole an 81-year-old floral champion's hanging baskets, succeeded in their attempt to stop her winning a Wisbech in Bloom competition for the third year running.

Dorothy Mills had to settle for joint-third place in the small in-town garden competition, after her floral arrangements were stolen.

Judges acknowledged that jealousy had led to the cruel theft.

She also won second place in the best residential house front competition.

In their report, the judges said: "She showed what could be done in a small space. It makes people jealous because they can't do as well as someone who is older than them."

Four days after thieves took hanging baskets and tubs from outside her home in Love Lane, Mrs Mills received an anonymous phone call telling her: "You will not win for a third time.;"

At the time of the theft Mrs Mills, who won the best small in-town garden in 2005 and last year, said: "I have never known anything like it. It is a bit nasty considering it's only a competition.

"As a family we thought someone had taken them to sell at a car boot sale but when I had the call I knew it was not."

She had two hanging baskets stolen one night in July, along with a double basket standing near her front door, two tubs and a number of small assorted geraniums and pelargoniums. She is convinced the two incidents are linked.

She said: "They were definitely there in the evening because I remember watering them, and whoever took them must have had some wire clippers because the baskets were tied to the hangers by wire.

"But then a lady, on a withheld number, called saying I will not win it for a third time.

"I was going to pull out of the competition because I was so upset, but everyone I told kept telling me not to give in.