THREE teenagers have spoken of their distress after they discovered their chickens had been slaughtered.

Brothers Anthony, 16, and Lee Campbell, 15, and friend Jason Bryan, 13, made the discovery when they went to feed their hens at Howden-le-Wear Allotments on Wednesday night.

Eight bodies were left in the garden while four chickens had taken refuge in a shed. A further 22 were missing, believed stolen.

Anthony, who has had the allotment with his brother for a number of years, said they were devastated.

He said: "It is upsetting. They are our pets. We cannot believe someone can be so cruel."

Secretary of the allotments Dave Quinn said that he and his fellow gardeners were sickened by the attack.

He said: "What has happened to these birds is disgusting. These young lads spend hours down there. To have this done to them is sickening."

But the teenagers are determined to carry on.

Just hours after carrying out the heartbreaking task of burying their birds and they are now planning to start from scratch.

Jason said: "We will start building new sheds this weekend and we will buy more birds. This is our hobby. This is what we like to do."

The attack comes as a double blow to gardeners, who are facing eviction at the end of this month because the land is being sold for a proposed housing development.

George Wimpey has submitted a planning application to Wear Valley District Council for 41 homes on the allotments and on an adjoining plot at the rear. The plans are yet to be discussed by committee.

The district council leases the land from Shafto Estates, who gave the council a 12-months notice last September.

The council is still looking for an alternative site.

PC Tony Elliott, from Crook police, said an investigation was being carried out into the attack on the hens.

He said: "This is a malicious and sickening attack."

Anyone who can help with the inquiry is asked to call 0854 60 60 365.