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Distraught owners of three prizewinning cockerels are appealing for their return after they were snatched from their cages at the Royal Berkshire Show.

Owner Annette Adaway, 49, and her 23-year-old daughter Utopia have been left devastated by the theft of their beloved pets Geronimo, Malcolm and Bartley.

Chicken farmer and founder of Absolute Chickens Mrs Adaway, from Aldermaston, is appealing for whoever took her champions game birds to return them safely.

Her daughter, Miss Adaway said: “My family are devastated that anyone could steal our pets.

“We are desperate to get these birds back. They were rescued a year ago and brought back to good health over the past 12 months so they have a lot of meaning to my mum.”

The cockerels were stolen some time between Saturday evening and 10am on Sunday morning, from their cages in the poultry tent.

The family had left the cockerels safely secured in their padlocked cages overnight after a successful afternoon which saw Bartley win best of breed in the game birds section.

“We never thought that one would win champion of the show and just want these birds back home where they belong along with their rosettes,” said Miss Adaway, of Pipit Close, in Thatcham.

Miss Adaway said she felt let down by the show organisers for the inadequate security.

She said: “The show should have better security. We trust people to look after our birds when we are not with them.

“When asked if there was security we were told there is a man in a caravan on site. If this was a dog show there would be further actions taken.

“When we approached the poultry tent staff, we were told there was nothing they could do. To be honest they didn’t seem to care at all. Instead all they could say was that we would be penalised if we took our birds home early.

“Nevertheless we took our birds home early.”

The family said on Monday they would be reporting the incident to the police.

“These weren’t just show birds, they are our pets and we would urge anyone with any information to come forward,” said Miss Adaway. “If it was you who took the birds please, please bring them home.”

Interim general manager, Simon Frere-Cook, of Newbury & District Agricultural Society which organises the two-day event, said the birds weren't the only thefts at the event.

Overnight on Saturday, a manned cash point complete with ATM was broken into and some £4,500 in coins stolen, £700 was taken from the cab of a lorry, five spare wheels and light covers were taken from an agricultural stand and a toolkit holder was taken from another stand.

Organisers believe the cash thefts may have been connected, while the theft of birds was a targeted one by specialists.

“We maintain what we regard as a good level of showground security which includes dog patrols but it is a large site and very difficult to keep totally secure,” Mr Frere-Cook said.

"The theft of the birds is obviously particularly distressing and we have expressed our concern to the owner. We are aware of the potential for specialist thefts of this type and our stewards are alert to that right through the show as well as overnight when some of them are sleeping nearby.”

He added: “Both we and our security advisors are working closely with the police in their investigations and would urge anyone who has any information that may help to come forward.”

If you have any information about the stolen cockerels, you can call Mrs Adaway on 07973 406 357 or her daughter on 07854 040 010.

You can also call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.