A HEARTBROKEN couple have talked about the callous, cool-headed thieves who snatched two carved cats off their driveway.

The cats, carved in sandstone, had taken pride of place on the drive outside the Beckwith family home at Scouthead for nearly 20 years.

But in the dead of night, they were both stolen. One cat had been levered from its stout stone mounting and the other was broken off at the ankles leaving the paws intact - still fixed to the wall.

Mrs Rachel Beckwith, aged 42, lives with her husband Howard and daughter Holly on Lower Tuft Lane.

She said: “We still get can’t over the audacity of the thieves.

“The cats are of tremendous sentimental value - they’ve been part of our lives for so long. I still can’t believe they’ve actually been taken.

“Checking the time lines, we worked out the theft took place between 11.30pm at night and 4.30am. It’s unbelievable really.”

Her husband Howard, who works on a farm, said: “I leave home very early and I had to do a double take to check both cats had actually gone.

“One of the sandstone cats mounted on the driveway post had been neatly lifted off. The other was taken from the wall the other side of the driveway leaving the paws behind.

“Both the statues are very heavy and the thieves must have had a vehicle close by to make their getaway.”

And the family are facing another irony. Because it is a year ago since a lifelike sandstone Santa was taken from their driveway.

“It’s just so strange, “ added Mr Beckwith.

The cat thefts have been reported to police and Mrs Beckwith, who works for a local vet, appealed: “If anyone has seen the cats we would be really glad to hear from them and see their safe return.”

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Note to Dave :: by the time you read this I’ll be on my way to the airport hoping the drone menace will not have delayed our return home. I’ve taken two tablespoons of of Bisto on your advice 😩and a large cork