A PIGEON fancier was devastated when thieves stole his home-made bird loft - the day he finished it.

John Corrigan spent a month working on the 18ft wooden structure, which cost him more than £300.

Mr Corrigan, 51, of Rumbyhill Lane, Crook, County Durham. completed it at 7.30pm on Wednesday but three hours later it had been stolen from High Jobs Hill Allotments.

Mr Corrigan said: "I couldn't believe it because it must have weighed more than a ton. Things that big don't just disappear."

A former glass cutter, Mr Corrigan began racing pigeons after retiring due to ill health.

He said: "I am devastated. I put all my spare cash into it and it was supposed to be helping my health.

"It is so disheartening, I feel like packing it all in."

His wife, Alma, 57, said: "We were devastated because we spent so much time and effort on it. I spent all of the next day crying. What is so disappointing is that we scrimped and scraped to get all the materials for it.

"They say people will nick anything not nailed down, but this was screwed to breeze blocks in the ground and that didn't stop them."

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police on (01388) 762 011.