Nearly 200 chickens worth more than £1,800 have been stolen from a farm near Lichfield. A total of 180 birds were taken from sheds at Willow Wharf Farm in Daisy Lane, Alrewas.

The Warren hybrid chickens produced free-range eggs at the farm. A red Lincoln 3.1kw generator used to supply power to the hen houses was also taken. Farm owner Joanne Rawlings, aged 51, told of her devastation today following the theft.

She said: “The chickens went in at about 6pm and we checked them at 10pm before going in for the night.

“When we got up the next morning I noticed the clapse of the lock on the ground. I checked the hen houses and found that about 180 hens had been taken. It’s left me feeling devastated.”

It is thought the offenders used wheelbarrows to transport the chickens to a wai-ting van.

Mrs Rawlings and husband Rob are offering a £300 reward for information leading to the conviction of the offenders, who struck on on Saturday.