ORCHARDS for Herefordshire cider giant Bulmers have been targeted by criminals, West Mercia Police said.

As a result of the criminal damage and thefts at the orchards around Westhope, near Hereford, police said they would be upping patrols in the area.

PCSO Christina Howard said that over the last two weekends police had had reports of criminal damage to items in some of the Bulmers orchards around the village.

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She said that machinery warning signs had either been damaged or stolen as well as damage caused to the guard rails around the fruit handling plants.

She said police did not know at what times the damage and thefts happened, but told locals to remain vigilant.

She told those living locally to report anything suspicious that they see.

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As a result, Hereford Rural North Safer Neighbourhood Team will be increasing their patrols in the area, but anyone with any information should email the police on herefordrn.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference SD-12575-22-2222-01.

Bulmers, now owned by Heineken, is made at the mill in Hereford - the biggest cider factory in the world.