THE owners of two stolen horses have been searching fields and paddocks for the missing animals.

Gayle and William Dugdale, from Chilton, are desperate to find their three-year-old trotter, called Rooster, who they have had since he was born.

Rooster, who is brown, with a distinctive black mane and tail, was taken from a field with a friend's year-old filly last week.

The filly is brown and white with a light blue wall eye, which should be make her easy to spot.

Mrs Dugdale said they would pay to get Rooster back. She said: "He is not worth more than £200, but he is one of the family.

"He is so friendly that he will go up to anyone. We think that is why he was taken.

"We have driven around the area every night, but nobody has seen either of them."

There were four horses in the field at West Chilton Farm, but only two were stolen.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Moody, at Ferryhill police station, on 0845-60-60-365