A SOUTHAMPTON grandmother has been left “devastated” after her allotment was torched by arsonists.

Vivien Buckley, 62, from Shirley had her allotment on Borrowdale Road set alight.

The shed on the plot was completely destroyed along with all its content and police are treating the incident as arson.

The grandmother-of-five said: “Everything is destroyed.

“It’s all gone I am devastated, I have small grandchildren and they have always been interested in my garden so I was going to give them their own plot at the allotment.

“I don’t know how someone can be so vindictive and nasty.

“I am scared that this will happen again and it just makes you think what’s the point?”

Police and fire crews were in attendance to help tackle the blaze on Sunday night.

Fire crews were call at 11.28pm on Sunday night and had the fire “under control” by 12.27am.

It is believed that fuel was thrown on the shed before it was set alight.

Vivien works for the NHS as a 111 call operator and has degenerative arthritis in her knees.

Her daughter, Nicola, said: “Mum is a keen gardener, she grows fruit and veg and give it to the neighbours.

“When she got the allotment she was over the moon, she got it to a really good level.

“My mum is devastated, she’s been left with all the rubble.

“As Christmas and birthday gifts my brother and sister and I kitted her out with new tools, wheelbarrow, camping cooker, kettle, and she has dug over the whole allotment to replant it- not an easy task when she has degenerative arthritis in her knees.

“She is also acting as point of contact for her previous neighbour who was diagnosed with dementia, visiting him at the assisted living site and driving him to any appointments, all for free and in her own time.

“She is a good member of the community, it is so unfair and unjust.”

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary added: “We’re investigating a fire at an allotment shed on Borrowdale Road, Southampton, which happened between 10pm on March 9 and 12.30am on March 10.

“Anyone with information can call us on 101, quoting 44190083822.”