Hutton Buscel family left devastated as pet sheep are stolen from farm

Rose (L) and Robert (R), pictured with some of their sheep, had been left upset by the theft, Julie Jewitt said

A teenager has been left "absolutely devastated" after some of his family's sheep - including the boy's own show sheep - were stolen in North Yorkshire.

Mum Julie Jewitt found six pet sheep had disappeared from the farm in Hutton Buscel, near Scarborough, on Friday.

Ms Jewitt said her son, Robert, 14, had gone to school in tears on Monday as Dreamer, his show sheep, was among those taken.

Robert was "still hoping the sheep will come back", she added.

Ms Jewitt told the BBC that five of the sheep, who were the family's pets, were due to start lambing.

"We're doing everything we can to get them back as my son is absolutely devastated about it," she said.

"I do not know why they were taken. It doesn't make sense as they are not worth a lot of money."

'No sign of them'

Ms Jewitt said her husband had last checked on the sheep just after 10:30 GMT on Friday.

The only clue about what could have happened was the discovery of a set of tyre tracks from a tractor which were found later on Friday which had not been there earlier in the day.

"We think the gate was opened and a tractor was used to take them," Ms Jewitt said.

Both Robert and daughter Rose, 12, went back to school upset after the half-term holiday and were unable to understand what had happened, she added.

"Nobody has seen any sign of them yet, despite us notifying everyone we can.

"The sheep did have ear tags in - although we are aware they can be cut off."

The number on the flock's ear tags was UK 132627, Ms Jewitt said.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police asked anyone with information about the theft of the animals to get in touch.