A family has spoken of its heartbreak as three beloved pet chickens were stolen from their home.

Hilary Sutton had her family returned home from work and school to find that 36-week-old chickens Edna, Gertrude and Betty had been taken from their chicken coop.

Feathers and traces of the cut wire ties to the chicken coop were found lying on the ground at the home in The Street, Carlton Colville.

Mrs Sutton said her 14-year-old son Oliver, who looked after the chickens, had been left devastated by the theft.

'He just stood there crying,' she said.

'It is not something you can even begin to think that they would do.

'I can't believe that someone would do it. They were like members of the family.

'It's just nasty.

She appealed for anyone with information to contact police. 'Maybe someone saw someone walking up the road with the chickens in their arms,' she said.

A police spokesman asked anyone with information about the incident, which happened sometime between 8am and 4pm on Thursday, July 7, to contact the Lowestoft Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.

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