Sir – On Saturday I was one of hundreds of volunteers across the city taking part in OxClean. My patch was at the lower end of Marston Ferry Road and included the bank where, many years ago, tens of thousands of daffodils were planted, I believe by primary schoolchildren. There is now half a mile of flowers just coming into bloom and giving pleasure to everyone who drives or cycles along the road.

Yesterday I noticed a man carrying a huge bunch of daffodils into his car. When I asked him if he had taken them from the bank he refused to answer, but it was clear that he had and, a few minutes later, when I was picking up litter along the bank, I saw a number of broken leaves and several bulbs that had been uprooted and left lying in the grass. I have contacted the police about the incident.

Jim Campbell, Oxford