A WARNING has been issued about the consequences of sheep rustling after a man was spotted driving through Burnley with one as a passenger.

The driver later claimed to officers he had bought the animal for £20 as a pet for the family.

Police are now appealing for information about the animal from the public.

The problem of sheep rustling has been described as ‘hellish’ by one farmer who said it destroys livelihoods and can cost thousands of pounds.

PC Nigel Keates said a member of the public reported seeing a sheep as a passenger in a car in the Burnley area.

He said: “The vehicle owner was traced to a Pendle address.

“The man informed police he had purchased the sheep in the Bacup area for £20 as a pet for the family.

“In the absence of any paperwork and a satisfactory explanation as to the location of purchase the sheep has been seized.

“You simply cannot purchase or transport a lamb legally without some documentation.”

PC Keates said the sheep could be breeding stock and one of the main irritations for farmers is if they lose their blood lines.

He said: “You have to have every sheep tagged because of disease and if it is likely to end up in the food chain.

“When you sell it or move it to somewhere else that is not within your farm it needs to be tagged and have movement documents.

“The rules are there to prevent the transportation of diseases and ensure traceability if it goes into the food chain.”

The sheep, named Luncheon the Lamb, is now being cared for by a farmer while investigations continue. PC Keates said the sheep was ‘clearly traumatised’ and a little sore from being carted round but had settled into its new home.

He added: “If this is a case of sheep theft we want to ensure our rural communities that we will do our best to apprehend perpetrators as we know the effect this can have on breeding stock and livelihoods.”

Scott Robinson, 26, who farms 140 ewes from a smallholding in Barnoldswick with his family, said it was a hellish problem.

He said: “It is really bad at the moment. A good friend of mine had around 26 of his stolen eight months ago.

“He got hold of some CCTV and managed to trace them to a field about four miles away.

“People steal them to order. They cut the tags out and then they are gone.

“It takes years to get your blood lines and if someone just comes and rounds them up it can seriously financial bankrupt you. It can cost thousands.”

The National Farmer’s Union estimates sheep rustling costs about £6million a year.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.