Baffled bobbies are searching for the owner of an abandoned flock of rare breed sheep discovered in a farmers field over two weeks ago.

Extensive investigations by North Yorkshire Police have drawn a blank as to who the 32 Hebridean sheep belong to and where they came from. Now they're hoping a public appeal may round up the owner.

They were discovered in a field on Brackenthwaite Lane, in Pannal, near Harrogate by the landowner around 9am on July 3. The flock is described as being in poor condition with no markings apart from one ear tag which has not helped track down the owner. Tyre tracks were found in the field. 

Community Support Officer, Matthew Cockerill, part of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce said: "This is definitely one of the more unusual situations I’ve experienced in day-to-day policing and very sad that a group of animals would be abandoned like this with no consideration for their safety and welfare.

“We don’t know what circumstances could have led to the sheep being left in this way, whether they have been stolen and dumped or whether their owner was no longer able to look after them, but we hope that we can find whoever is responsible and ensure the flock has a secure home for the future. In the meantime they are being looked after by a local farmer.”

Anyone with information call 101 quoting 12190119908