A pub landlady is distraught after thieves trotted off with a large part of her collection of ceramic pigs.

They took more than half of her collection, which were on display during a karaoke night at the Beer House, in Magdalen Street, Colchester, leaving Lindy Lou Draper in tears.

She said: "I was extremely upset at the end of the evening when I realised they had gone.

"People reassured me it was a gag but I couldn't see the funny side. They are still not back so obviously some swine has stolen them."

The pigs, of all shapes and sizes, have been collected over the years. Many were given to her by her eight children and stepchildren.

Mrs Draper said: "A lot have deep sentimental value. A couple of those stolen have inscriptions on the bottom, I don't know how people could be so horrid."

"It is like me walking into their front room and taking their television. If I get my hands on them they will have had their bacon."

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