A GRANDFATHER has said the thief who stole his beloved ducks from his Burton small holding has "broken the hearts" of his grandchildren.

Anthony Naylor, 70, a former carpenter and his partner Carolyne Webb, discovered the metal duck house at their Stony Lane plot had been "smashed in" on Monday morning.

Five ducks, which he described as "part of the family" were taken - leaving them to break the sad news to their eight grandchildren.

He told the Echo; "I'm so perplexed - I don't know why anyone would steal my little ducks. They were part of the family.

"The children adore them - they're very friendly and like a cuddle. I'm absolutely devastated and I have the awful job of telling the grandchildren."

Mr Naylor and his partner have kept the small holding for two decades as a hobby. They tended to the ducks three times a day, and the grandchildren visited them every Sunday.

The missing birds include one call duck and a four miniature apple ducks, which he hatched and reared, and were only worth some £30 each. Two larger ducks were left behind.

He said someone had broken down the door of the "very secure" metal house overnight on Sunday.

He said: "All the children were involved with the ducks - on Sundays they would let them out to run about and play with them - it was just lovely."

He added: "Somebody somewhere had broken a few hearts unnecessarily."

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed they were called to the theft of some ducks from a property in Stony Lane at some time between 6.30pm on Sunday and 8am on Monday. Officers are currently investigating.