'Personalised' trees stolen from Qala

Around 60 olive and pomegranate trees have been stolen from a picnic area next to Ġnien il-Familja in Qala.

Condemning the theft, Qala council said the trees had been planted by the council together with the Rural Affairs Ministry and children from the local primary school.

Mayor Paul Buttigieg said the trees bore signs with the names of children who had planted them. The children were proud of 'their' trees and visited them regularly, watered them and showed them off to their families, he added.

He pledged that the trees would be replanted shortly by the same children whose trees were stolen.

Another 200 trees will also be planted during Qala Day on June 7.