A BUDGERIGAR breeder is offering a reward of £5,000 for the safe return of 168 show birds stolen from an aviary in her garden.

The birds disappeared from The Green, Chester-le-Street, between 4.30pm and 8.35pm last Saturday.

Only one bird was left behind, all the others were taken after a padlock on the aviary door was forced open.

The stolen birds are various colours and are all ringed with the breeder's personal number, which is 85182. Sgt John Stephenson said the victim was offering a reward of £5,000 for either the safe return of the birds or information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the burglary.

He said: "The theft of these birds has left the victim absolutely distraught.

"They are the product of 15 years work on her behalf and are worth in excess of £6,000.

"Her gut feeling is that they have been stolen by someone involved in budgerigar breeding and showing."

"The victim believes that had the birds been merely freed from the aviary many of them would have remained close by and some would have quickly died as a result of the cold weather.

"Inquiries have been made locally and there have been no reports of dead budgerigars being found in gardens."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Police on 0845 60 60 365.