PET owners are warned to be on their guard after a spate of incidents in the borough, when animals are believed to have been stolen.

Dog warden David East, sounded the alert after five border collie puppies were stolen from Higher Walls Farm, Walls Clough, Lumb.

He said: "We had a Siberian husky stolen from Water, an incident in Stacksteads where a man was seen to put a dog into a white van and now this incident.

"I am appealing for pet owners in Rossendale to be on their guard and look out for anyone seen acting suspiciously in the area to contact me or the police.

"If you see a van which you are not sure of, take down the registration number and pass it on to the police and they can easily check it out.

"Two different eye witnesses noted the number on the van in the incident in Stacksteads and when the police checked it it did not tally with the vehicle seen.

"The only dog warden in the area is me and my van is clearly marked."

He said he was increasingly concerned about the pets which had gone missing and no trace had ever been found of them.

The husky vanished in April from land on Carr Road, off Dean Lane. A reward for the valuable dog's safe return was offered by his owner Heathcliff Howard but nothing has been heard since.

Last week the five puppies, two bitches and three dogs were stolen from Alf and Barbara Kyme's farm in Lumb.

Mr East said he is also looking for new homes for stray dogs which have been brought to the House on the Hill Boarding Kennels, in Whitworth, which Rossendale Council uses.

He said: "We are getting a lot more dogs because the RSPCA and Bleakholt are closed and their animals are being passed on.

"We have several who are ready for rehoming and anyone who can help can contact the kennels on 01706 633555.

Anyone wanting to enrol their animal on the dog training scheme run by Mr East can attend Bacup Leisure Hall on Thursday at 6pm. New people to the scheme should not take their animal to the first meeting.