Farmers in Powys and Shropshire have been warned to be on guard after an increased number of sheep rustling incidents.

A number of sheep and lamb thefts have been reported in the area over the past couple of months, with the Oswestry and Powys areas mainly affected.

Police said today at least 35 sheep have been stolen from a field at the Candy, to the west of Oswestry, over the past six weeks. The most recent theft was on Monday.

Now police are urging people to contact them if they know anything about the thefts.

A police spokeswoman said: “A vehicle would have been needed each time to transport the animals and we would ask anyone who might have seen livestock trailers or lorries in the area to get in touch.”

Meanwhile, a number of sheep and lambs were stolen from a farm in Churchstoke at the weekend.

Constable Mark Thomas, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said three sheep and four lambs were taken in the incident.

Constable Thomas said officers were now working with Powys County Council to put a stop to sheep rustling in the area.

Last month, 45 Welsh Mountain ewes were taken from land in Builth Wells and in July hundreds of sheep and lambs were stolen from a number of farms in the Llanfechain and Newtown areas.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call police on 08453 302000.