A GANG of rustlers stole 55 sheep in an organised raid on a farm in the Ribble Valley.

Ewes in lamb, worth around £15,000, were snatched from fields at Hall Trees Farm in Chipping.

Farmer Robin Dean from Hough Clough Lane, said: "It has made us become very vigilant.

"They were obviously taken by people with knowledge of how to handle a large number of livestock. It was not an opportunist theft. It had to be planned because of the numbers involved."

Experts from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) revealed the value of sheep had risen over the past year due to increased demand from abroad, sparking a surge in thefts.

And in January, Farmer Paul Simpson, moved his flock of sheep out of the Ribble Valley after repeatedly being targeted by thieves at his farm in the Copy Nook area of Bolton-by-Bowland .

Police said the animals were tagged, although they could be easily removed by anyone trained in sheep farming.

The theft is thought to have taken place overnight on February 27 with thieves leaving a trail of footprints and vehicle tracks.

Sergeant Gary Hennighan said: “The offenders must have been well prepared and it would have taken them quite a while to load these animals up.

“We would urge anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area to get in touch with us immediately."

The sheep were of the Texel breed and had a red 'D' branded on their left side and an orange mark on their rumps.

Andrew Rothwell, from the National Farmers' Union, said livestock prices had 'gone through the roof'.

He said: “This is because of a number of factors including bad weather, lack of imports from New Zealand which has reduced its stock by fourmillion and diminishing number of farms.

”Farmers need to keep an eye on their stock and report any suspicious behaviour.”

In May last year, 271 sheep were stolen from a field in Edenfield and in January rustlers were said to be targeting Cumbria on an unprecedented scale, with hundreds of animals stolen in 19 incidents Anyone with information should call Clitheroe police on 01200 443344 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.