A RIBBLE Valley farmer is counting the cost after 14 bullocks were stolen.

Andrew Pye, of Hill Crest Farm, Chipping, said the bullocks could have been worth a lot of money as they got older and heavier.

Thieves broke into the Startifants Lane farm and between 9pm on Sunday and 5.45am on Monday.

The bullocks are aged between seven and 14 months and have passports so they cannot be sold without the ownership document.

Mr Pye, who breeds cows and sheep, said: "It's quite a loss for us because they could have been worth a lot of money.

"At first we thought they had wandered off because the gate was wide open and we contacted the police to see if anyone might have seen them.

But we have since realised that they are not coming back. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before.

He added that the stolen animals are a variety of continental breeds including limousin, charolais, Belgian blue and simmental.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information about the crime is asked to call Sgt Phil Cowell at Longridge police on 01772 782625.