EXASPERATED allotment holders in Southampton are to meet police after being the target of an increasing spate of vandalism.

The holders, fed up with repeated attacks on sheds and the shop, will discuss measures with the local community officers on how to step up security.

The site in Newtown Road, Sholing, is the biggest of the 23 allotments in the city and began operating before the Second World War.

“One of our members can recall coming here on the handlebars of her grandfather’s bike,” said site agent Peter Hampson, 74, who has been growing vegetables there for about eight years.

The allotments have always been a target for vandals but the problem has definitely got worse of late.

“It’s been going on for years,” he said. “The fencing has never been that adequate to keep them out. I’m sure it used to be youngsters because they would empty generators and lawnmowers for their motors. But now I think it’s adults because they’ve pinched lawnmowers and generators.”

The final straw came last month when thieves targeted the allotment shop where they took cash from the till.

The problems however have intensified with a recent resurgence in popularity of allotments.

With Southampton Council promoting its Growing your own campaign, the 240 plot site has becoming increasingly used and more ground that has been unoccupied is being cleared and used.