Now the Whitby youngster is appealing to Whitby Gazette readers to help in her efforts to get them back.

It is believed the chickens were stolen from a field in Hawsker where she keeps her five pets.

Rebecca Cornforth (12) got the chickens as a Christmas present from her mum Clare and she named them Pepper, Salt, Mustard, Spice and Rocky.

The family live in St Peter's Court but kept the chickens in a rented field in Hawsker.

The chickens were stolen last Sunday night. When Rebecca went up with her mum to check on them and feed them, she found they had gone

Mrs Cornforth said: "She is very upset, she is absolutely devastated.

"They are pet chickens which I bought her as a Christmas present.

"They also stole the coop which measured approximately one metre by one metre. We are offering a £100 reward for anyone who can provide any information which leads to their safe return."

PC Chris Bone said: "This is not the first instance of chickens being stolen as we have heard of other instances of chicken thefts on the east side of Whitby in January.

"People must contact us if they see anybody acting suspiciously and they must report to us any thefts of their items of property.

"To steal pet chickens in this way is reprehensible and the culprits will be dealt with robustly."

ANYONE with any information please call Whitby police on (0845) 6060247.