POLICE are looking for vandals who killed a family of ducklings and stole a group of chickens.

The incident happened in a market garden in Guisborough last Friday when 15 chickens were stolen and nine ducklings were killed. The animals had been housed in wire coops at Priory Garden, off Bow Street.

Owner Edwin Rowe discovered the attacks and said the mother of the four to five- week-old ducklings had also disappeared.

He said: "It is so annoying that someone could do this. The chickens weren't big enough to eat. Whether someone just wanted to steal them to rear them themselves I just don't know. Why anyone would want to kill the ducklings is beyond me."

Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police on (01642) 302026.