Police are appealing for public help after sheep have gone missing from a farm.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses to come forward, after an incident overnight on May, 21 and May 22, which saw seven lambs and a Hotline Electric Fencer Unit and Battery stolen from a field near Loders.

It is unknown if the thieves were disturbed and planned to take more, with 10 sheep originally thought to be stolen, but three were located nearby.

Extensive searches and assistance from the farming community have taken place, but the owners have not located the seven lambs.

The lambs were born in March and are either Dorset Crosses or Texel Crosses.

PC Claire Dinsdale of Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team, said: "We take the theft of livestock very seriously.

"It has a substantial impact on farmers and causes them constant worry they will be targeted again.

"The farmer spent the night watching over the rest of the flock in fear the thieves would be back.

"The animals themselves can be transported and kept in very poor conditions with no regard for their welfare.

"These animals can enter the food chain without any regards for the strict controls that protect the public from contaminated meat.

"This sort of crime therefore has wider safety implications to us all.

"I would ask anyone with any information about livestock theft or the illegal meat trade to contact Dorset Police.

"We would ask the public to call us immediately if any suspicious activity is seen, especially at night.

"Thieves can use 4x4 and trailers or even larger lorries and vans to take sheep."

Those who see any suspicious activity are asked to take the vehicle registration and contact Dorset Police.

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55180077683.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55511 or via crimestoppers-uk.org