Sheep taken by rustlers

Hundreds of sheep and lambs are missing from farmers' fields across the Powys/Shropshire border following a spate of sheep rustling, it emerged today.

In the latest thefts, 24 Suffolk cross ewes and 46 lambs have been taken from land between Llanfechain and Llanfyllin, and two lambs have gone missing from the Rhydycroesau area. Police are investigating the incidents.

Last week, police said 39 Welsh mule ewes and 92 Texel cross lambs had been taken from farm grounds at Tynbryn Hill, Dolfor, near Newtown.

Now Dyfed-Powys Police and Powys County Council trading standards officers have joined forces to try and clamp down on the thieves and the illegal movement of livestock in the county.

A police spokesman today appealed for witnesses to any of the incidents to contact the police.

"Police and trading standards are investigating all the sheep thefts, illegal movements of livestock and illegal slaughter of livestock throughout Powys," he said.

"Some of the ewes and lambs stolen from land between Llanfechain and Llanfyllin were last seen at the end of May. All these animals were marked with a bright orange 'E' and the adult ewes bear tags with the number UK700195."

He said two lambs had also been taken from a field near Rhydycroesau on the Powys/Shropshire border.

"They were taken from a flock sometime over the last few weeks," he said. "They are pet lambs and very tame, but they were unmarked."

He said: "We need to do all we can to stop this from happening in the future, these latest thefts are just some of many that have occurred in Powys over the few months and we need to crack down on the problem.

"The sheep taken from Dolfor, which were taken between May 1 and June 11, were all wearing the farm's ear tag, which displays the flock number UK01568 and were also earmarked with straight tips off both ears."

Peter Roberts, of the Farmers' Union of Wales, urged farmers to be extra vigilant. He added: "This is a very unfortunate situation and it is disappointing farmers now need to keep a very close eye on their animals.

"We hope these offenders will be caught as they are obviously doing it to try and make a bit of money."

Anyone with information should call 08453 302000.