THIEVES who raided a community farm escaped with an unusual haul - a flying squirrel, a chipmunk and a guinea pig.

But their owners, who suspect they may have been taken by youngsters, are concerned for the animals' welfare.

Dave Featherstone, who runs Clarence's Community Farm, in Port Clarence, Teesside, said: "The problem is that they have quite special diets - they eat a lot of fruit and nuts - and it is likely whoever has pinched them won't know how to look after them."

Thieves broke into an office building on the farm and took the three animals from their cages.

Mr Featherstone said: "My suspicion is that it is probably local kids who have done this. The three animals are hidden away a bit in the office, but we occasionally let kids in there to look at them. I think someone has seen them and thought 'I'd like one of those'."

The chipmunk, nicknamed Chippie, and the sugar glider flying squirrel, called Bushie, shared a cage, while the guinea pig was kept separately.

None of the three animals are thought to be rare, but the chipmunk and flying squirrel are very distinctive.

The community farm has a ranch of animals, including lambs, pigs and horses, and is open to visitors.

"It is quite sad because we have a good relationship with most of the kids round here.

"We offer a safe place for them to come on a night or a weekend. I like to describe the farm as a community centre with animals."

Staff were alerted to the theft when an alarm sounded on Wednesday at 11.40pm.

The sugar glider is a nocturnal animal found in in North and Central America and grows to about eight-and-half inches - about the same size as a hamster.

Chipmunks grow to about the same size and also come from North America.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police on (01642) 326326.