A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl was left devastated after finding her pet chickens were stolen from the family's allotment.

Rosanna Brimm, of Bishop Middleham, reared the 12 hens and two cockerels with the help of her father Tony Brimm and now says she doesn't want them replaced for fear of it happening again.

Worth about £300, the chickens were taken from the allotment near to the family's home, in Roast Calf Lane, sometime overnight between last Friday and Saturday (January 29 and 30).

"One of the neighbours knocked on the door and said our allotment had been opened" said Mr Brimm, who runs Take 6 Taxis in the village. "All the locks had been smashed off and there was blood, although I don't know if it was whoever took it or the chickens.

"Rosanna was with me when we went to look and she cried her eyes out and still cries when she talks about it.

"I'm angry and disgusted that somebody would to that.

"I haven't had an easy life, I left home at 16 and joined the Army and have never pinched anything."

The father-of-two and St Michael's C of E Primary School pupil Rosanna have been rearing birds for five years.

"We're down there every day and have never missed a day since we got them," he added. "They were very much Rosanna's pets. She had even named them.

"People don't realise but they have their own personalities - they're quite interesting creatures.

"She's that frightened that they would get pinched again she doesn't want to have anything else to do with them."

Among the chickens were rare breeds including a number of Lemon Millefleur Sablepoots plus a Hamburg and two light Sussex.

A box which is sued to transport the birds was also snatched.

Mr Brimm, 46, reported the theft to the police but is warning other people to be vigilant as he believes it is "happening all over at the moment".

The caution has been echoed in recent days in the Fishburn area.