FOUR tiny ponies- at least two of which are pregnant- have been snatched from their Teesdale home.

Miniature Shetland mares Fee Fee, Star, Pandora and Mandy were taken from a farm on the edge of Barnard Castle overnight on Thursday into Friday morning.

All four of the ponies, who measure just 30 to 34ins tall, have been running with stallions and at least two of them are known to be carrying foals.

Owner John Watson, who farms near family business the Jersey Farm Hotel, off Darlington Road, has appealed for their safe return.

Mr Watson, 71, who has kept and bred Shetlands for around 20 years, said: “If someone breaks into your home you feel rotten, this is much the same.

“It is not just what they take but the damage caused and the thought of someone rummaging about your property, taking your property, especially animals you’ve looked after and three bred yourself, that gets to you.

“I want them back because they’re mine, but also because I’m worried about their welfare.”

Two of the ponies, Fee Fee and Star, are skewbalds with patched colouring, Pandora is a black and white piebald and Mandy is black and grey.

All are aged around eight or ten years old and the two in foal could give birth any time after mid April.

At around 4.30pm on Thursday, March 12, Mr Watson put the animals into a building ready to have their feet trimmed the next day.

But when he went to work on Friday, March 13, at around 6.45am he noticed a gate was open and when he went to check on the ponies discovered they were missing.

Sergeant Simon Rogers, of the Barnard Castle and Teesdale neighbourhood police team, said: “It is a very unusual crime.

“We’re appealing to the local community who may have seen or heard anything suspicious or anyone with information to get in touch.

“Anyone who has been offered miniature Shetlands for sale or may have seen them should come forward and we’re asking landowners to keep an eye on their property in case the taken ponies are put on someone else’s field without their knowledge.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Barnard Castle police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.