A man who has kept canaries for 50 years has been left heartbroken after his beloved birds worth £5,000 were stolen from his garden.

John Smith, 70, of The Chase, Wickford, discovered about 70 of his birds were missing when he went out to feed them.

Thieves broke into a shed in his garden overnight and took the Norwich canaries - which are mostly green and yellow - from their cages.

Mr Smith, who breeds the birds and exhibits them at shows up and down the country said he was "devastated" by the theft.

He was due to exhibit them at a show in Tilbury yesterday (Sunday).

He said: "I have had canaries for the past 50 years. It has probably cost me about £50,000 over the years to breed them, although they were only worth about £5,000.

"I am getting on in age now and will never be able to get back the collection I have bred. "They have just gone for good. It is just so heartbreaking."

Anyone who has any information about the birds is asked to contact Basildon Police on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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