Rebecca Cornforth (12) appealed to Gazette readers to help in her efforts to get them back.

The five pet chickens were stolen, along with their coop, from a field in Hawsker a fortnight ago.

But two of the five re-appeared in the field last Wednesday.

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

It is believed that whoever stole the chickens also stole the coop which measured approximately one metre by one metre.

"We think the article must have pricked at someone's consicence when they read about it in the Gazette

"Rebecca is now re-united with Rocky and Spice but sadly Salt, Pepper and Mustard and the coop are still missing.

"Those three are pure bred and the two she has got back are cross bred chickens, but that's not the point, they were all her pets.

"We would just like to say a very big thank you to the Gazette as it has obviously pricked someone's conscience for them to take the chickens back to the field.

"It's a shame she didn't get all five back, she was devastated at the time, but it's certainly softened the blow.

"We will keep going back up to the field to check but we will keep these other two at home from now on to be on the safe side.

"We don't hold out much hope for getting the other three back now because they have been gone too long ." said Mrs Cornforth who works as a teaching assistant at Lealholm School.

PC Chris Bone of Whitby Police condemned the chicken theft as "reprehensible" at the time.

The family, who live in St Peter's Court , are offering a cash reward for anyone who can provide any information which leads to their safe return.

Call Whitby Police on (0845) 6060247 if you can help.