Sheep rustlers raid Dumfries farm

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More than 100 sheep have been stolen from farms in Dumfries and Galloway, police have confirmed.

The animals, worth tens of thousands of pounds, were rustled from two farms near Kirkconnel in Upper Nithsdale.

Farmer Robert Bell said the loss comes as business was returning to normal after two thirds of his flock were killed in the foot and mouth epidemic.

A Dumfries and Galloway Police spokesman appealed for members of the public to help.

Cattle markets

Mr Bell has put up a Â£5,000 reward after 115 of his Swaledale breeding sheep were rustled from his hill farms at Rigg and Nethercairn.

The incident happened on Monday 30 October while he was away at sheep sales.

Police across Scotland have been alerted and cattle markets are also being watched for the missing sheep.

Some of the ewes were marked red while others were marked blue.

Mr Bell said the theft was well-planned and was a huge loss to his business.

This has obviously been well planned and whether I get the sheep back is very doubtful Robert Bell

He said: "The loss is crippling at a time when farmers all over the country are struggling.

"This has obviously been well planned and whether I get the sheep back is very doubtful.

"If you get a good ram off one of the sheep then it can be worth a lot of money. They can easily make Â£10,000 to Â£15,000 at the sales.

"The other big loss is the blood lines which I've built up over the years."

A police spokesman said officers were investigating the theft.

Mr Bell, who farms 1,600 acres on the two farms, has sold Swaledales in the past for up to Â£21,000.

The main A76 Dumfries to Kilmarnock road runs between the farms and he said it would be easy to get a lorry in and get the sheep away.

Mr Bell said agricultural equipment had also disappeared from his farm recently.