STEVE Hodder has confirmed that the sheep were found safe and well on Boxing Day in a field one mile away.

He explained that the sheep either strayed when someone took their roadside gate away or they were taken and returned to roughly the same area.

Steve said he is happy now that he has some pedigree ewe replacements for next year as planned but still would like to know who removed his field gate, and how the sheep got to their new location near Punchbowl Recycling Centre.

- - - - - - - - - -

WHILE a farmer and his family were at their local church on Christmas Day, 11 lambs were stolen from his farm.

Steve Hodder took to social media to publicise the theft on December 25 and said: "Watch Out! Just had 11 ewe lambs stolen in the Crediton area.

"Stolen from a roadside field on a quiet lane between 9am and 10am in Keymelford, near Colebrooke.

"Looks like a professional job using a dog and loading in the road. Could be a van or vehicle with trailer.

"The lambs are strong ewe lambs.

"They have a blue 'H' in the middle of the back about five inches high. Yellow and light blue ear tags. Flock number U3755460.

"Similar to lambs in the photo but eight of them with brown faces.

"Please make them too hot to handle. Any info on suspicious vehicles to me please or the Police."

Steve added that there was plenty of grass and water in the field and there were no signs of the lambs having run along roads in the area.

If you can help Crediton Police with their inquiries, please telephone the Devon and Cornwall non-emergency number, 101.