A LEDBURY sheep farmer has been left counting the heavy cost after rustlers targeted his pregnant ewes in what was probably a series of hits.

Now John Bishop, of Cummings Farm, and the landowner he leases fields off, businessman Roger Allsop, are offering a £2000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of the culprits or the return of the sheep.

Mr Bishop is still preparing a tally for insurers, concerning the number and value of animals that were taken, but taking into account the loss of unborn lambs, he estimates that the financial hit to the farm will be in the region of £12,000.

He said: "I have lost a large quantity of sheep. These ewes have become very valuable and to lose ewes when they are pregnant is a great loss. I don't want the hassle. I don't want this at all.

"We had problems like this a few years ago, but over the last two or three years it has been very quiet. But I say to other farmers, don't drop your guard."

He added: "We need to make sheep farmers aware of what has happened."

Mr Bishop said his "gut feeling" was that the sheep were taken in "two or three hits", from fields at Lavenger Bank, Petty France, near Wellington Heath.

The animals were tagged, but Mr Bishop said: "It would be east to snip the tags out and re-tag them."

All the Texel Cross ewes were present and correct on Monday December 1, but a count on Monday January 12 revealed that a substantial number of ewes, out of a 900 strong herd, had been taken.

West Mercia police have put the number of stolen ewes at 75.

Mr Bishop rents some of his land off a friend, Roger Allsop, the well-known local businessman responsible for a number of developments in Ledbury, including the redevelopment of the Old String Work site in Bye Street into modern retail and office premises, several years ago.

When Mr Allsop heard Mr Bishop was offering a reward of £1000, he said he would double it.

Mr Allsop, of Hope End, near Wellington Heath, said: "I'm happy to do my bit to try and catch the culprits. we both felt we had to do something that had an impact."

He added: "John is more upset than angry."

Anyone with information should phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 22ED2367X15.