THIEVES stole a hen from a house in North Yorkshire as a spate of poultry crimes took place in the county.

The grey speckled bird was taken from the garden of a property on River View Road, in Ripon, at about 5.30pm on Monday.

The theft comes only days after a cockerel was killed in a North Yorkshire village.

Officers said Claude the cockerel was found in a shed at its home in Orchard House, Bishop Monkton. His neck had been wrung.

In the incident on Monday, the owner of the hen, who lets his birds roam free outside his house, saw two men passing his property along a public footpath.

The men appeared to be empty-handed until the owner heard a squawk and saw the suspects walking away, with one of the men carrying something in his arms.

The suspects, who were both wearing jeans, are described as white and aged in their late teens.

One of the men was wearing a blue top and the other man was wearing a grey hooded top.

Officers are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the theft to come forward with information.

Detectives say inquiries are still ongoing into Claude the cockerels’ death. Three owners in the Bishop Monkton area have also reported cockerels being stolen in recent weeks.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.