Vandals have failed to force a 90-year-old gardener to give up his allotment after a series of attacks.
Joe Pickering has vowed to carry on after his shed was destroyed, along with those belonging to his son and a neighbour.
But his son, Peter, has decided to call it a day after thousands of pounds worth of equipment was damaged.
Mr Pickering Senior took up the allotment in Little Bowden, Market Harborough, when he retired from working at a car dealership in Leicester in 1987.
He said: "At first, I thought I would pack it in after the fire. The youngsters have been creating a nuisance for 10 weeks now.
"They have been getting into my shed and leaving drink cartons and crisps packet about and generally making a mess and causing damage.
"Then they burned the sheds down and I thought, I am nearly 91, do I want to carry on?
"But I have all my crops in the ground and I still enjoy coming here. I will harvest my beans, potatoes and other vegetables and see how it goes."
He lives in Foxton and drives to the allotments, off Scotland Road, most days.
He said: "I keep my tools in the car so they did not get damaged."
But Peter has told the council he won't be renewing his lease once he has harvested his crops.
The attack occurred late on Friday, May 31, at the secluded site which is surrounded by trees.
Three sheds, fence panels and a number of trees were damaged in the incident, which is being investigated by police. Peter, 61, is giving up after cultivating his plot since 1975.
He said: "This is the last straw as far as I am concerned. I discovered the damage when I went to do some gardening on Saturday. I could not believe the extent of it. There is a serious problem with some young people in the town and the nearby Little Bowden recreation ground is a target.
"Youngsters had been using my dad's shed to meet in recent weeks and had caused minor damage leaving empty crisps packets and plastic pop bottles around.
"They even through a spade through the roof. They also ripped off a padlock my brother had put on to secure the shed.
"I had old paint tins and creosote in my shed and that helped fuel the fire. I have lost all my tools and had to buy a replacement hoe this week and that cost £22.
"I estimate that, with the sheds, tools and fence panels, at least £2,000 damage has been done.
A fire service spokesman said the alarm was raised by residents shortly after 11.15pm on May 31 and two crews were sent to the scene. He said the cause was deliberate.
A police spokeswoman said they were investigating the incident and would urge people who saw people acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the fire to contact them on 101.
