HEAD for the hills - there are rustlers in St Annes.

The stark discovery was made by David Aspin when his prized horse, who at just a few weeks old hasn't even been named yet, was stolen from Back Glen Eldon Road.

And its stable mate, affectionately dubbed Orsey by David's three-year-old grand-daughter Amber, is pining away.

David is particularly anxious for his horse to be rounded up for it was all his own work, made out of wood from his own plans.

It was a perfect match to the rocking horse he had made for Amber and was intended as a surprise for his year-old great niece Georgia.

"We are concerned for its safety as the thief may not know how to care for it properly," he told the Citizen. "The horse disappeared from my camper van where it was being stored, some time between Thursday and Sunday (April 1- 4) morning. It was off the road and hidden from view behind Richard's hairdressers."

David's hobby is joinery and he came across some plans for a rocking horse which he modified before bringing it to life. The first horse went down really well with Amber who rides and strokes it each morning. David was hoping to get the same reaction from Georgia.

"Orsey is definitely pining for its stable mate and I just want it back," he said. "The police have been informed - hopefully they'll send out their mounted division to look for it."

David is appealing for anyone who knows of the horse's wherabouts to call St Annes police on 01253 725261.

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