Rare flower stolen from golf club

The orchid is thought to be worth about £2,000

A rare flower that is believed to be worth up to £2,000 has been stolen from a golf club in Lancashire.

The Lady's Slipper orchid was reported missing on Tuesday from Silverdale Golf Club in Red Bridge Lane, Silverdale.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said it is thought the flower might have been stolen to order.

Specialist plant collectors are being urged to keep a look out for the orchid, which is yellow in colour with maroon petals.

It is believed the theft took place after the flower's summer flowering period, when it is protected by a warden.

[The theft] could set back the plant quite a number of years in terms of the plant's ability to flower and set seed English Nature

Colin Newlands, from English Nature, told BBC News Online the flower - its scientific name is Cypripedium calceolus - is believed to be the rarest flower in the UK.

"About 900 people have been to see the plant at Silverdale, as it is one of the last remaining sites for the Lady's Slipper in this country."

"Somebody has deliberately removed all the stems and it looks as if the root stock has been damaged. The extent of the damage is not yet known.

"This year has been a good year; it had nine flowers on it.

"It went through the flowering period without incident, but because of the time of year the plant has been damaged; it will affect the health of the plant.

"It could set back the plant quite a number of years in terms of the plant's ability to flower and set seed.

"We really won't know quite how badly it's been damaged until next spring/summer."