COCKATIELS, budgies and a plum parakeet were stolen from a family's aviary in Roydon after thieves broke into their back garden.

Alison Richards from Parkfield Road in Roydon was shocked to discover all that was left in the cage were four dead birds and a parrot.

Her 14-year-old son went outside to feed the birds in the morning and found that 25 of them had been stolen and the fence leading out onto fields behind had been cut.

Mrs Richards, 38 said: "My sons look after them and they were very upset when they found them. Especially the fact that there were dead ones which we then had to clean up. I don't know what happened to them, they might have been knocked on the head."

The thieves had cut through the wire fence and broken into the aviary causing £50 worth of damage and stealing about £400 worth of birds.

Mrs Richards believes they will be used to set up a business or sell to a pet shop.

Crime reduction officer at Epping Tony Ellis said: "If anyone has been offered any birds please get in touch with us."

The family had built up their collection of birds for four years after being given some to look after by a family member.

Mrs Richards said they will not be replacing them but have bought the parrot inside.

It is believed that other birds were stolen from another garden near to the Richard's house on the same night.

Mrs Richards said: "Whoever it was got away with a lot of birds that night. I think they left the parrot because they are so hard to catch and also make a lot of noise. We'll look after the parrot inside but I'm not going to buy anymore. It's such a shame."

Anyone with information should call Tony Ellis at Epping police station on 01992 561212.