FARMERS in the two counties are being warned to be on their guard against foul play.

Producers have been warned about "audacious poultry thieves" who cash in on the Christmas demand for turkeys, chickens, geese and ducks.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has issued a warning, saying the thieves, who are "audacious and determined", will stop at nothing to steal the poultry.

"Small-scale producers in particular can be very vulnerable," said regional CLA rural surveyor, Caroline Bedell, adding larger, specialist poultry firms were usually well protected with sophisticated security systems.

"Failure to take strict security precautions to safeguard the flock could be rewarded with a miserable Christmas when the sheds are found empty one night."

She said one of the most efficient and cost-effective protections was an alert dog with sensitive hearing.

She also advised keeping birds as close to the farmstead as possible, in a sound, locked building with sealed windows and keeping an eye out for unfamiliar cars parked nearby, who could be sizing the property up, and take their registration if suspicious.