SICK yobs stole and brutally killed a Lancaster family's beloved pets while the owners were on holiday.

Mrs Bridget Newhouse and her three children were away when a neighbour, who was feeding the animals, discovered a rabbit and a guinea pig were missing from their homes in the back yard on Wednesday.

The Newhouses immediately cut short their break in Great Yarmouth and returned home to look for Misty, the lop-eared rabbit and Daisy the guinea pig, which was pregnant.

However, after putting up posters around their home on Fairhope Avenue, appealing for the safe return of the animals, they discovered on Sunday that Daisy and Misty had been squashed to death and dumped, in pieces, on a playing field at a nearby school.

The discovery shocked the family and, in particular, their three children, including daughters Sarah, six and Hayley, 13.

"My children are absolutely devastated," said Mrs Newhouse: "You just can't believe anyone could do something as horrible as this.

"My friend had put posters around the area on Thursday offering a reward for anyone who managed to find them.

"A lady saw the notices in the shop and knew by the description that these were the same animals which had been found in the field at St Joseph's infant school, so she got in touch with us."

Anyone with any information about the sickening crime or any idea who is responsible is asked to contact Lancaster Police on 01524 63333.