A pair of much loved guinea pigs have been stolen from their owner's garden in Beddington.

The pets, named Rusty and Blackie, had been left in cages in the front garden of a property in Meller Close, off Beddington Lane, between 11pm and midnight on Friday evening.

But, when the pair's owner, a keen animal lover, came out to check on them, they were gone.
It is not the first time the woman has had an animal stolen from her - earlier this year her black and white kitten called Patch also disappeared.

The guinea pigs are a breed known as self guinea pigs, meaning they are smooth-coated and all of one colour.

Rusty is orange and two years old while Blackie is black and one-and-a-half years old.

Patch is fluffy and white except for a small black patch on her head and a black tail.

Police and the owner are appealing to anyone on their way home from the nearby Harvest Home pub in Beddington Lane who may have seen someone hanging around to get in touch.

They are also appealing to animal sanctuaries, vets and pet shops to come forward if they are handed in.

If you have any information about the missing pets, you can call police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.