HEARTLESS thieves have stolen two "irreplaceable" rare breed lambs from a farm - prompting Sandwell Council to issue CCTV image of the suspects.

Devastated staff at Forge Mill Farm in West Bromwich are appealing for help to catch the thieves who stole two rare breed lambs on the evening of Sunday July 25.

It is suspected the lambs were stolen for slaughter to be eaten.

The two Pedigree Shropshire ewe lambs were born in February and were due to join the farm’s breeding flock next year.

A council spokesman said: "The animals were particularly important to the farm and its work with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).

"The Shropshire sheep is one of the success stories to come out of the RBST's programme to boost numbers of vulnerable livestock in the UK."

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member responsible for the borough’s farms and parks Councillor Maria Crompton said: “This theft is a huge loss for the team that works so hard to care for the animals throughout the year and for the people of Sandwell that visit our farm".

“The farm staff are devastated by this callous act.

"These lambs are irreplaceable as it takes a huge amount of time and energy to produce rare breed sheep of such high genetic quality as these and for them to be stolen, and most likely slaughtered is disgusting.

“We are appealing for anyone who witnessed people acting suspiciously on Forge Lane, West Bromwich around 10.30pm on Sunday, 25 July or knows anything to call the police.

“The animals taken from Forge Mill Farm are not fit for human consumption.

"Don’t buy meat except from a reputable shop – it could be a health risk, not a bargain.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with crime reference number 20/146 4767/12.

Any cases of illegal slaughter should be reported to Sandwell’s consumer protection team at EHTS_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk.