A garden centre whose fish died after vandals poured petrol into its charity pond in June has been given the chance to raise more money for charity – thanks to kind-hearted Recorder readers.

Greenhouse Water Gardens in Chase Cross Road, Collier Row was targeted in June when vandals left more than 30 fish dead from a pond that made money for St Francis Hospice.

Most of the fish in the pond were donated to the centre, which then sold them to people with all of the profits going to the charity.

Zoe Sands, who helps out at the family-run firm, said: “We’ve had so many lovely people rally around through reading your newspaper. It was really nice that when there were such horrible people who would do something like that, that there were such nice people as well who all told us not to let it get us down.”

Matt Sands, who helps run the firm, said: “It was fantastic, guys came from across the area to donate their fish. They’ve been donating really good ones as well.”

Since the article was printed, a resident has donated a water feature worth about �450 which the centre will sell to raise more money for St Francis.

Mrs Sands said: “He’s donated a Henry Studio, which is like the Rolls Royce of water features. It’s just so nice of him.”

Mr Sands said: “We want to say a big thank you to everybody who has gone to the effort of helping, and supporting St Francis.”

It is offering the feature to anyone to anyone who wants to make a donation to St Francis to buy it, but asks they pay at least �150 for it.

For more information call the centre on 01708 726 726.