THOUSANDS of pounds of worth of equipment has been stolen in a spate of thefts from isolated farm houses in East Lancashire.

Police have been forced to step up patrols in the evenings and have launched a new farm watch scheme to stop the thefts.

Bowland Newton, Slaidburn, Waddington, West Bradford, Gisburn, Rimington and Chatburn have all been hit.

In the past six months, three Land Rover Defenders have been stolen in Bashall Eaves and Chatburn; thieves have taken two saws and a van in Slaidburn and in Gisburn two quad bikes and a JCB digger have been taken.

Other items have also gone missing including diesel, scrap metal and chainsaws Farmer Eddie Cowpe, who runs the Huntley’s of Samlesbury farm shop, said his offices had been broken into twice in three months with computer equipment worth £7,000 stolen.

Last year, Mr Cowpe, was left with a clean-up bill of around £70,000 after a 10,000-litre diesel tank was raided at his farm in Whalley Road.

The raiders left the tank’s tap running, causing thousands of litres to spill onto the land. He said: “It’s an absolute nightmare because we have to replace everything.

“Thefts on a farm can cause a real nuisance because they are not like normal businesses and they need their equipment and machinery every day to feed their livestock and make sure everything is clean and efficient.”

A farmer from Slaidburn said he was devastated after a tractor and strawing out machine worth more than £21,000 were stolen.

The 59-year-old said: “It can ruin your livelihood because there is a time lapse between it being stolen and being able to replace it which means that things on the farm can’t be done.”

Andrew Rothwell, from the National Farmers Union in Clitheroe, said: “Thieves are being forced out of the towns because of increased CCTV and security and are seeing farms in rural and isolated areas as easy pickings.”

Sgt John Lynsey, of Clitheroe Police, said: “We are aware of the problem and urge farmers to ensure property is secure at all times.”