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

Alison Richards, of Parkfields, in Roydon, was shocked to discover that 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 on Tuesday, March 11, and found 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."

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

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

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

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

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

It is believed other birds were stolen from another garden near to the Richards'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're 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 about the theft, which happened between 6pm on Monday, March 10, and 3.30am the next day, should ring Tony Ellis at Epping Police Station on 01992 561212.