A west Oxford businessman who offered to help a local youngsters' football club has found himself several hundred pounds out of pocket.

Richard Moy, of Pots Direct, loaned the palms to Botley Boys and Girls Football Club

Robert Moy, who has run the Pots Direct shop in Botley Road for the past six years, loaned four large potted palms to brighten up the annual meeting of the Botley Boys and Girls Football Club held last weekend in the hall of the local primary school.

The impressive decorative trees, known as 'windmill palms' or by their Latin name of trachicapus, and standing about six feet tall, were decorated with lights and helped to create a welcoming atmosphere for the young players and their families as trophies and cups were handed out for those who enjoyed success during the past season.

Two days later the palms were taken back to the rear of neighbouring premises, as Mr Moy's shop was closed for the day, but disappeared within a matter of hours.

The theft has deeply upset the football club, which was very grateful for Mr Moy's support.

Jackie Benoist, the club's secretary, said: "Robert was doing us a real favour by loaning the palms to us free of charge to light and decorate the school hall. They looked superb, really fabulous, and we were so pleased with the effect they had on the hall.

"I feel dreadful as Robert not only very kindly lent us these very expensive plants, but went out of his way to deliver them to the school on Saturday morning. This is how he has been repaid for his good deed.

"Sadly, I doubt if he will see them again. I feel really awful that he had them stolen.

"All week we've been trying to find out what's happened to them. He doesn't deserve this as he's such a lovely chap."

Linda Devlin, who runs the Eggs Eggsetara store next door with her husband Joe, said they had agreed to have the palms left in their rear driveway as Mr Moy was absent.

"We were a bit worried because it is not secure and anyone can walk up there," she said. "I came in on Tuesday and noticed they had gone.

"It's sad because he took them to the school of his own accord and did them a favour.

"There's a lot of building work going on around here with various vehicles coming and going. It's difficult to pinpoint who may have been around at the time."

Mr Moy, 35, who spent 10 years living in Italy, travels back there once a month to buy plants and shrubs from local farmers. The plants are then shipped back to the UK by container.

He said: "These palms came from a village called Pistoia, near Florence. They would cost around £150 in a garden centre, but I sell them for £65.

"It's sad what's happened when you try hard to do what you can for the community.

"I love it here, it's a great place to be, and the people are wonderful.

"It's all about trust, and it's terrible when you get a rotten apple in the barrel."