POLICE are appealing to farmers after suspected stolen lambs were found near Thirsk.

About 20 lambs – aged between six months to one year old - were recovered by police at the beginning of last week.

The animals did not appear to have ever been tagged and are of a Texel or Hampshire Down breed or similar.

Anyone who has any information about the lambs, or who believes they have had any stolen recently, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12150149052.

*Earlier this year North Yorkshire Police joined forces with NFU Mutual on a major new livestock theft prevention campaign.

For more information about rural crime, and how the police are tackling it, visit northyorkshire.police.uk/ruralcrime