A GRANDMOTHER whose allotment was targeted by cruel thieves has discovered more of her beloved hens and cockerels have been slaughtered.

Milly Middlemass, who looks after two allotments along with her friend Ann Wedgewood, was left devastated at the beginning of the month after finding four of her cockerels had been slaughtered and 35 hens stolen when she went to feed her animals.

And on Monday she made another grim discovery when she found another five hens and one cockerel had been decapitated at her allotment behind the New Marske Methodist Church, east Cleveland.

Fighting back tears, she said: "I just can't believe that it has happened again. Why are people being so cruel? We now have no hens left at all and we are absolutely devastated.

"To be honest, at the minute I really don't want to have to go to the allotments anymore because I am so upset, but I have to as I still have the horses to look after."

Mrs Middlemass’ grandson Alfie, four, and Mrs Wedgewood’s grandchildren Tyler, 12, nine-year-old Leland and Logan, six, were regular visitors to the allotments but have thankfully been spared seeing the grim slaughter.

She added: "It's just sickening to think what goes through the minds of people if they can be this cruel. Whoever is doing this must know that the hens and cockerels are on the allotment and they must have some idea what time we come to feed the animals as this latest attack happened in such a short period of time."

The allotment was first targeted some time overnight from Tuesday, March 1 into Wednesday, March 2 and the latest attack comes less than two weeks later.

"We were hoping that CCTV would help the police to catch whoever is responsible," she said. "But at the minute is doesn't look like we are having any success in finding them.

"We are just heartbroken by what has happened to our hens and cockerels."

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen hens or those responsible is asked to contact PC Wendy Rowe at Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.