North Devon farmers are being urged to keep valuable equipment and fuel locked away to prevent farming thefts which, according to the insurer NFU Mutual, totalled more than £8 million from farms in both Devon and Cornwall last year.

Topping the list of targeted items being stolen were chainsaws, lawnmowers and electric drills but quad bikes, heating fuel and even tractors were all spirited away by thieves who knew exactly what they wanted and where to find it.

Key advice from police to local farmers is to keep valuable equipment locked safely away and not to leave machinery unsupervised in fields.