THIEVES have stolen dozens of canaries from a North-East home in a carefully-planned raid.

Between 35 and 40 Fife canaries were taken from aviaries at a house in Belle Vue Terrace, Middleton St George, near Darlington. The theft happened some time between 8pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.

PC Neil Thompson, of Darlington police, said: "It was obviously somebody involved in the bird trade, as they left a lot of other valuable stuff behind."

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Thompson on 0845 6060365.