Little Katie Robertson is distraught after callous thieves stole her pet ducks and their unhatched eggs, writes Karen Rosine.

The three ducks and the eggs which are due to hatch this week were taken from Manor Farm in Gravel Lane, Drayton, near Abingdon, on Thursday night.

Two weeks before, a water trough was stolen from the farm and nine-year-old Katie's dad Peter Allen now believes the two thefts are linked.

He is offering a reward of 100 to anyone who has information which leads to the safe return of the Appleyard ducks. Katie, nine, lives in Drayton with her mother and sister but kept the ducks at the farm.

Peter said: "I went down to feed them in the morning and they were not there. It is obviously someone who knows something about ducks as they took the eggs as well.

"They were my daughter's pet ducks and nothing to do with the farm. She is really, really upset she has had them since they were really small.

"We just want them safely returned from wherever they are, for Katie's sake."

The theft has been reported to the police.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact Peter on 0836 229390.