HORSE owners are mounting late-night vigils to catch thieves targeting stables in the Bishop Auckland area.

A group from a village outside the town is working with police to trap the culprits, who raid isolated properties stealing hay, feed, generators, rugs and even ducklings and new-born lambs.

Some stables and smallholdings have been hit several times, even though owners have stepped up security after earlier raids.

Horseboxes have also been broken into and their diesel tanks drained.

One said: "We have formed an alliance via the Horsewatch scheme and, with help from the local police, are determined to put a stop to the thefts.

"We work really hard to keep our animals and many of us spend our last hard-earned penny on them.

"It is really too much to go in and find there is nothing for the horses to eat."

Over the past few weeks the group has passed on several vehicle registration numbers to police. It is also circulating photographs to people on farms and smallholdings.

The spokesman said: "We don't want to give too much away about what we are doing or say exactly who or where we are, but we are as determined to catch these people as they are to steal from us."

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call police on 0845 6060365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.