Community farm 'devastated' over £2k meat theft

It is believed a sledgehammer was used to break into the farm's storage units

A community farm has said it is "devastated" after meat worth £2,000 was stolen.

Oxford City Farm - a registered charity - was broken into on Saturday and 120kg (265lbs) of pork was taken from its storage units.

Nicole Titera, who manages the site on Cornwallis Road, said the theft represented a "significant loss" and that the meat stolen came from two pigs carefully reared over the summer by dedicated volunteers and staff.

Thames Valley Police confirmed officers were investigating and appealed for information.

Volunteers and staff hand rear their livestock

Ms Titera said a sledgehammer was used to get into the farm's storage units.

"The farm is a community asset, we're a charity and so that revenue is a significant loss for us... we're devastated, we're reliant on sales to keep us going," she told the BBC.

"They cleared out all of the valuable pork belly, tenderloin, all of the cuts of meat we were going to have for sale here at the farm and then disappeared with it into the night… it's really frustrating."

She added: "The meat was intended to be shared in a way that reflects the values of the farm and support its work and to have that taken from us is heartbreaking."

The farm is now fundraising to help repair the damaged storage units and to cover the lost revenue.

Another break-in was reported by counselling and mental health service Restore at its allotment in nearby Rymers Lane on the same night.

Power and hand tools were stolen but police do not yet known if the break-ins are linked and asked for anyone with information to get in contact.