FARM staff are celebrating the safe return of two rare residents.
Workers at Tweddle Animal Farm, in Blackhall Colliery, east Durham, are planning a welcome home party after goeldi monkeys George and Mildred were found by officers.
The rare animals, thought to be worth about £2,000, were found by police during a raid in South Shields, South Tyneside, on Thursday.
A 21-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and bailed pending inquiries.
Farm owner Denise Wayman said: “We are all over the moon. We got the call on Thursday afternoon, and when we radioed the staff, a cheer went up.
“They looked a bit skinnier than when they were last here. They used to have lovely coats, but they were dirty.
“They were not very mobile at first – they have been in a very small enclosure. But now they are all over the place. They are jumping about and chattering. They are loving it.”
The small, black South American monkeys, one of only ten breeding pairs in the UK, were stolen on June 23.
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