TWO Gwent farmers claim sheep are being stolen from their fields.

Brian Davies says around 20 ewes and yearlings went missing from his 100-acre Penyrheol Farm, in Abersychan, in the last few months. He put their value at around £700 in total.

"I think people are pinching them to put in the freezer," said Mr Davies, who has been farming for 40 years and has 650 ewes in all.

"I count them every month or so, so I know exactly how many I have. We've had incidents in the past but nothing like this."

Andrew Darby, whose Garnwen Farm is near Mr Davies', said one of his sheep was shot with a crossbow. "I found it hanging up from a branch in a tree, ready for skinning," he said. "It had been left there probably because whoever had done it had been disturbed."

The farmers are being supported by NFU Cymru.

Sarah Jones, of NFU Cymru, said: "These sheep are the farmers' livelihoods and we would urge anyone seeing anything suspicious to contact the police."

Mr Davies said he had reported the thefts.