Appeal after 11 sheep stolen from farm

The animals were stolen between 15 and 17 May

Information is being sought over the theft of 11 sheep from a North Yorkshire farm.

The animals were taken from a field in Hutton Mulgrave, Whitby, between 19:00 BST on 15 May and 05:00 BST on 17 May.

The sheep are described as Texel cross hoggs with a mixture of white and brown faces.

North Yorkshire Police said any information from the public was "paramount" to the investigation.

'Significant' financial losses

The sheep were tagged in both ears with their UK flock number and may have orange spray marks on their shoulders.

PC Jack Donaldson, from the force's rural task force, said livestock theft causes "significant" financial losses for farmers.

He added: "The emotional and mental health impacts on farmers can be devastating.

"Farmers often raise their stock from the day they are born, and for them to disappear overnight into criminal hands causes great anxiety and stress, as animals are often mistreated by the criminals."

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