Thieves who snatched flowers from outside a Norfolk funeral directors were branded “despicable” last night.The three hand-tied flower sprays, complete with attach-ed condolence cards, were snatched in just moments as undertakers went inside to carry a body to a waiting hearse.

Thieves who snatched flowers from outside a Norfolk funeral directors were branded “despicable” last night.

The three hand-tied flower sprays, complete with attach-ed condolence cards, were snatched in just moments as undertakers went inside to carry a body to a waiting hearse.

Police are now examining security footage and conducting house-to-house inquiries in a bid to catch the petty criminals.

Last night the thieves were branded “despicable” by both the funeral director and the florist, who raced to create three similar bunches of flowers in time for the funeral.

The theft took place in a quiet back street at Fox's Funeral Services, on Canada Road, Cromer, just after 10.30am yesterday.

Consultant funeral director, Keith Barker, said: “It is sickening. I have never heard of anything like it. They had flower cards on and everything.

“The family were burying their mother and I had to tell them as soon as I got to the house.

“We had put the flowers with others on the rack outside the back door where we had the hearse.

“We just went in to get the coffin and three sprays of flowers had gone.

“There were three men around but we do not know if they took the flowers.”

Mary Pembleton, who owns the Flower Centre in Sheringham, said: “We were appalled at what had happened and did everything we could.

“We dropped everything and three of us got to work immediately. It took us half an hour from start to finish and then my husband delivered the new flowers directly to the church.”

PC Dawn Crane from Cromer police station said: “We are astounded that this has happened and we cannot believe that people would stoop so low. It is disgusting.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cromer police on 0845 4564567.