MOORLAND farmers, concerned by a growing number of raids of livestock and equipment on their farms, are working with police to set up a farm and countryside watch group.

Thousands of pounds worth of animals, tractors, quad bikes and horse tackle has been stolen from farms within the North York Moors National Park.

Now, more than 30 farmers - many of whom had suffered thefts of livestock and equipment - gathered at the village hall at Carlton, near Helmsley, to hear how the scheme could work.

PC Ray Thwaites, Helmsley area community officer, said the system would enable farmers to alert each other if they saw suspicious vehicles.

"Rural areas are particularly attractive to thieves, many of who make a career out of theft and raids," he said.

"They know there are few security camera systems in the countryside and that they can travel around virtually unnoticed."

PC Thwaites said the aim of the watch group was to divide the moorland area into four sections - Carlton, Ampleforth, Sproxton and Rievaulx - with a lead co-ordinator in each.

Inspector Neil Burnett said: "Farmers are very trusting about equipment. But there is a whole underclass of people often from the Middlesbrough, York, Leeds and Hull areas who will travel into the countryside to steal."