A FARMING union has welcomed the news that a scheme piloted in Lancashire to tackle sheep rustling is being rolled out further afield.

The initiative to train officers in rural areas on how to spot the signs of sheep theft first drawn up in Hornby, near Lancaster, in January 2014 has now been rolled out across parts of Yorkshire.

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And Adam Briggs, the National Farming Union’s (NFU) county advisor for Lancashire, said he was pleased the police were putting rural crime at the top of the agenda.

Mr Briggs said: “A lot of work has gone in with John Taylor the chairman of the NFU, farmers and Lancashire Police to get the scheme off the ground.

“It seems to have had an effect on the ground and we have see reduced levels of sheep being stolen across the county.

“We are really pleased forces across the country are not putting rural life stock theft to the top of the agenda.”

The Lancashire agricultural industry led crime initiative brings farmers, auctioneers and the police together in an effort to put an end to livestock and machinery theft in the county.

As part of the initiative police are given training to how identify the owners of animals when suspicious vehicles are stopped, have been given a copy of the shepherd’s guide to learn about unique markings and have also been given a ‘magic wand’ to read ear tags placed in sheep.

Sheep rustling is an increasing problem, with around 80,000 sheep stolen every year.

The crime is costing farmers more than £6.5million a year.