A PONY stolen from a paddock in Barrowford just weeks after it had given birth to a foal was tracked down by its owner and brought home.

But as former horse groomer Michele Jones celebrated the returned of her beloved Shetland pony, Lilly, the thieves returned and stole her five-month-old foal, Dinky.

Both ponies were snatched from Bronteu Stables, iPark Avenue, Barrowford and recovered days later with help from the police.

Michele, 49, of West Street, Nelson said she has been left so traumatised by the thefts she decided to give up the ponies because she felt she could no longer keep them safe.

She said: “We received a tip-off about who had stolen Lilly.

“We called the police and managed to retrieve her after visiting the site.

“We were really relieved to get her back as Binky, had been crying none stop because he missed his mum.

“But then a couple of days later, the thieves came back and stole Dinky.

“Devastated isn’t the word. Luckily we managed to track him down too and return him home but this experience has really taken its toll.

“I can no longer protect them from thieves like this, so I decided the fairest thing to do was to hand Milly and Dinky over to a friend who can offer them a secure home out of the area.

“We also decided to sign over the older pony Rolo to the Horse and Pony Protection Association because he is sociable and would hate being alone.”

Michele who co-owned the ponies with close friend Colin Hargreaves, 70, of Burnley, believes Lilly, a nine hands Piebald Shetland pony, was stolen by someone for a wedding present for his new wife.