A FAMILY fear pig-knappers have stolen their pot-bellied pet after he went missing from moorland above their home.

Now Morteza and Julie Zabhi, of Lower Pasture Barn Farm, Belmont, are offering a £50 reward for the safe return of their black, nine-month-old Vietnamese pig, named Bruno.

Local farmers have already searched on quadbikes and horseback, even taking Bruno's favourite treat - miniature swiss rolls - to try to entice him back, but there has been no sign in the six weeks since he was lost.

Pot-bellied pigs are usually worth between £100 and £200 and father-of-four Mr Zabhi said: "It would have been impossible for Bruno to have escaped from the farm because it is fenced in, so we think someone must have stolen him. We hope to put posters up around Belmont to try to jog people's memories and we are offering the reward.

"The last person who saw him was one of the farmers who had been feeding his sheep. Bruno would go and eat some of their food and the farmer saw him returning."

Mr Zabhi said his four children, Haydn, 12, Zoe, 14, and twins Gupter and Danny, 19, were devastated by the mystery disappearance of Bruno, who they have owned since he was nine weeks old.

He added: "The children are very upset. He's such a friendly pig and we love him very much. We just want Bruno back home safe and sound." Anyone with information should call Mr Zabhi on 01254 830 794 or 07855 369497.