POLICE are investigating the theft of 14 chickens and two ducks.

The chickens and Indian Runner ducks, Indiana and Daffy, were stolen from the back garden of a house in Rectory Road, Hockley.

The birds were all in a pen in the garden on Tuesday evening but were missing the following morning.

There was nothing to suggest they had become the victims of predators.

Police believe the thieves would have come equipped to steal the birds and more than one person may have been involved to deal with 16 large noisy birds.

Anyone with information should contact police at Rayleigh on 0300 333 4444.