A heartbroken pensioner believes he has fallen victim to professional bird thieves after almost his entire collection of canaries were stolen.

The 78-year-old man from Great Totham, near Maldon, has condemned the thieves who broke into an aviary and stole all but one of his collection of about 40 birds.

The man, who does not wish to be named, only discovered the theft when he went to the aviary at his Plains Road home on Wednesday morning.

He found a solitary yellow canary flapping around with no sign of the other 40 - believed to be worth about £400.

The pensioner considers the incident to be the work of professional bird thieves who knew the canaries were being kept at his home.

He said: "The birds were kept in an aviary and to get to it you have to go through four locked doors. When I went to the birds this morning I found two locks broken on the floor and the other two missing.

"There is no way the canaries could fly away because they are kept in an enclosed area. I can only think one of the canaries managed to escape the grasp of the thieves."

He added: "I keep the canaries as a hobby in the same way people keep cats and dogs and it is something I've been concentrating on since I retired."

Anyone with information should contact Maldon police on 01621 852255 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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