Shop 'devastated' by loss of birds after break-in

Shop owner Martin Mclellan said the shop had experienced four or five other break-ins during its 40 years of trading

A family-owned pet shop is appealing for help to get back its "much-loved" birds that disappeared after a break-in.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said The Grange Pet Centre in Botley reported the burglary at about 14:00 BST on Wednesday.

Shop owner Martin Mclellan said about 40 budgies, 20 canaries, two cockatiels, a pair of red-rumped parrots and three Bourke parakeets had been stolen and that the place was now empty apart from an aviary of finches.

He added staff had had "a good response from the community" and a lot of their customers had offered to help.

The shop sells not only birds but also bird keeping supplies such as aviaries, cages, food and treats.

Mr Mclellan said that after opening up in the morning, they had seen the padlock to their large aviary had been broken.

"Then round the back of the site - we have another gate where the padlock was broken off as well, so they accessed the aviaries and took all the birds," he said.

In a social media post, the shop said they were "heartbroken" and "devastated" by the loss.

"We believe they may be offered for sale at bird sales or markets over the next week, so please keep an eye out," the post reads.

Usually full of twittering budgies, the shop's cages are now empty

Mr Mclellan said in 40 years of trading, the shop had experienced four or five other break-ins.

"We are quite isolated here, it's quite a rural area and there's lots of fields behind us as well," he said.

"We've had some good response, actually, from the community.

"A few people were going to bring us some of their birds in so we can restock our aviaries."

Hampshire police said the break in occurred between 7pm on Tuesday and 9am on Wednesday.

It appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.