Burglars broke in to Carpenders Park Nursery and Garden Centre and stole two huge garden table sets worth £5,000.

One of the tables was three metres square and sat a dozen people. It was the only one of its kind in the UK and was on sale for £3,000. The other was slightly smaller, seating eight people, and cost £2,000.

Both sets came complete with 20 chairs between them, which were also stolen during the burglary on Friday night, as well as large sun loungers.

Stephen Marshall, assistant manager, said: "The 12 seater table has nine panes of glass but when you take the glass off its quite light weight "We were the only outlet given that particular set in this country from a manufacturer in China so if it's in anyone's garden it would be pretty obvious.

"It was extremely expensive and it was a nice item."

Mr Marshall explained that the centre, in Little Oxhey Lane, is in a secluded location and was once plagued by thefts.

He added: "We've had break-ins before where gas cannisters were stolen so we installed a security system and we got a prosecution out of it.

"We're in a secluded area, people can come in via the cemetery and escape down Little Oxhey Lane if they have a van."

Mr Marshall said due to the recent heavy rain the garden centre industry has been suffering with poor sales.

He said: "The whole industry has been down 50 percent with the poor weather so to lose these items will only make that worse.

"The owners here put so much effort into promotion so we haven't been doing too bad, but garden centres that don't do that are having a very hard time at the moment."

Hertfordshire police is asking anyone who may know where the furniture is to get in touch using the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference C3/12/774.