Garden gnomes bought by a woman for her grandmother on her return from hospital were stolen by thieves.

Worse still, the thieves delivered a double blow to the family by striking on the eve of the grandparents' diamond wedding anniversary.

However, after hearing of the family's plight, The Argus stepped in to cheer them up.

Joan Burtenshaw fell ill on her 85th birthday and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with a perforated ulcer and peritonitis.

While she recovered from the life-saving surgery, her granddaughter Tracey filled her gardening-mad grandmother's lawn with garden gnomes, moles, scarecrows, dancing fairies and hanging baskets dangling from an apple tree.

Joan, of Wilson Avenue, Whitehawk, Brighton, said: "It looked a picture when I came home. It was so nice of her - I had no idea she had done it."

But within weeks of her return, Joan and her husband Edward, 81, woke up on the morning of their diamond wedding anniversary to find almost every ornament missing.

Thieves had come into the garden during the night and taken all the toys and hanging baskets.

Joan said: "I couldn't believe it when I looked out.

"The worst thing is none of it was worth anything.

"They were all made of plastic and were just little jokey things, like moles that appeared to be coming out of the ground.

"It's not the first time it has happened. I have had to tell my grandchildren to stop buying things because they get taken.

"Imagine that - having to tell them not to buy me anything."

When Joan's daughter Linda told The Argus about the theft, we teamed up with Paradise Park garden centre in Newhaven, which immediately offered to send plant manager Stuart Marsh with some plants to cheer up the anniversary couple.

Linda said: "We are not materialistic people. We didn't expect any of this. The only reason I called The Argus was to let people know this is happening.

"Tracey was ever so upset because she has very fond memories of staying with her gran when she was little. They are very close.

"It makes me so mad. The ornaments were just supposed to be a bit of fun because my mother has such a sense of humour.

"We work hard to keep our gardens looking nice so others can enjoy them as well."

Joan has tended the garden for all the 30 years she and Edward have lived at the house.

She said: "I will be out there as soon as I get better to put in these new plants. It is such a kind thought."

The family thanked The Argus, Paradise Park and also the staff on 9a Millennium Ward for looking after Joan at the Royal Sussex.