A FARM on the outskirts of Lytchett Matravers has been the subject of a burglary over the Easter weekend, with a vital generator looted and attempts made to take some of their animals.

Valley View Farm on Castle Farm Road works in partnership with charity Young Dorset to support vulnerable individuals taht have varying diagnosis of SEND, autism, ADHD and otehr mental health difficulties.

They reported the incident to police on Monday afternoon after individuals gained access to the site on the night of Easter Sunday and used a crowbar to break into a shed and steal a petrol generator.

Trustee Lisa O’Connor said: “They removed our main entrance gate and several other gates which we have on the site to gain access.

“They used a crowbar to break their way into one of our barns and steal our main generator which powers the borehole to provide water for our animals.

“We don’t have mains electricity at the site, and it is the main generator we use for all of our animals, so it is worth more than its monetary value.”

The farm is registered with both Dorset and BCP Council as a venue to help support children excluded from school to provide them with education in outdoor and social skills.

Lisa added: “Before the coronavirus outbreak, we were having enquiries regularly about helping children that were struggling at school or had been excluded,

“Our referrals have now stopped so we just have our current children who have been coming to our farm, we have had no new students, so this couldn’t have come at a worse time for us

“We have only been on site for just over a year. We don’t want to spend too much at the moment as we only have a fraction of the money, we would usually have coming in.”

After putting out a post about the incident on social media, the owners of the English Oak Vineyard got in touch to say they were also targeted by burglars the same evening.

“It is a frustrating time all around,” said Lisa.

She added: “We have pigs and piglets and a ram who is really friendly so we are now worried that these people will come back and take our animals.

“We are looking to get CCTV installed but funds are limited at the moment and as we don’t have main electricity, it will be difficult to do.”

The incident follows a spate of burglaries and attempted burglaries across the conurbation, especially in rural areas.

Lisa warns other business owners to remain vigilant and look out for any unusual behaviour in your neighbourhood.

She said: “It has only taken something like this to show me how vulnerable we are because we are so rural

“The police are stopping people going to the beach and visitors coming into the county, but they also need to be aware of rural crime because there will be more of it

“We are easy pickings.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 9.30am on Monday April 13, 2020 to a report of a burglary from a farm in Lytchett Matravers.

“It was reported that a Wolf petrol generator had been stolen from a shed.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”