Police are urging garden centres to be vigilant against the theft of Christmas trees after a number of reported burglaries.

Three hundred Christmas trees were stolen from High Legh Garden Centre in Knutsford, Cheshire, during an overnight raid.

And in a separate incident thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of Christmas trees and wreaths after smashing a fence and breaking into Lea Brook Nurseries in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

High Legh garden centre manager Neil Phelps commented: "The police said that at this time of year people know garden centres are carrying a lot of trees and the thieves would have come here a couple of weeks before to see how they can get in and out.

"The police told us that two other retailers had been targeted on the same night."

High Legh Garden Centre had managed to replenish stocks and customers hadn't been affected.