A fell farmer fears he has been targeted by livestock rustlers.

Chris Purdham, who farms at Gamblesby, near Melmerby, says 73 sheep and lambs have gone missing from the fells surrounding his farmstead.

The young farmer only discovered the loss when he gathered in his flock after police telephoned to say some had escaped and were on the A686 at Hartside.

The missing sheep is another blow to the farmer who back in March saw over 150 of his ewes perish in the severe snowstorms that hit the county’s east fellside.

“I had put the ewes back onto the fell because of the shortage of grass due to the hot weather.

“I got a telephone call from police to say sheep were all over the A686 so decided to gather them all in and bring them to the farmstead,” said Chris.

“It was only when I counted them that I discovered I was 43 Swaledale ewes short.

“I let the police know, but in the meantime I discovered 30 mule gimmer lambs had gone from grazing at Glassonby,” he added.

The ewe sheep have two distinctive red dots on the right hand side, one on the shoulder and one on the buttock and a left white horn.

The gimmer lambs have similar red dots, which double up on the right ear.

Last year, Chris said he had around 30 ewes disappear. “It is a real blow. The lambs were to be sold at probably the big sale at Lazonby. They would not have much meat on them now, but could be sold as breeding sheep.”

“I have reported the loss to the police, but if they don’t turn up in three or four days, they will regard them as stolen,” said Chris.

According to a rural crime report published earlier this month Cumbria and Lancashire are two of the areas consistently being targeted by rural crime gangs.

According to the report by farm insurer NFU Mutual cost of thefts has risen from £2.2m to £2.4m over the past year.

The true cost could be much higher as livestock farmers do not always have their animals insured or, if they do, decline to claim when thefts occur.

The National Sheep Association has put the rising number of thefts down to thieves being encouraged by record lamb prices.