A FARMER is warning people of being sold “illegal meat” after she had several cows stolen from a field.

Tricia Morris, from Rossett, said her husband discovered that eight cows had been stolen from their field on Harewood Lane, and fears that they may have been taken to an illegal slaughterhouse.

She said: “The cows were last seen at around 5pm the previous evening, and my husband went out at around 6:15am and realised 8 fully grown cows had gone from the field.

“There are obvious signs of distressed animals all around, you can see where walls have been knocked over by them, likely when they were being round up.

“You can also see large spills of oil around which shows that this was clearly a planned theft, and that the cows were likely rounded up into the back of a van and raced away.

“Me and my husband have lost between £10,000 and £12,000 in market value for the cows, but we don’t want this to be about us, what’s happened has happened.

“I’m more concerned about warning people about the potential dangers of people now trying to sell them illegal meat.

“They were moved without their passports, and the likelihood is that the cows have been taken to an illegal slaughterhouse, if someone shows up on your doorstep and tries to sell you meat, do not buy it.

“The police have been notified and are helping to find who’s responsible.”

PC Dave Allen, of North Wales Police Rural Crime Team, posted a video on Twitter appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

He said: “I’ve been to a job this morning where 8 cattle have been stolen.

“Offenders have gone to a small holding; they have broken padlocks have removed 8 cattle. But on their way out, whatever vehicle they were driving has had an oil leak.

“So, they’ve come out the small holding, gone down Harewood Lane, taken a left at the bottom and into the village of Rossett itself.

“What I’m appealing for is if anyone has seen any livestock being moved in the area from 5pm last night (July 1) to 6am this morning (July 2).

“I’m particularly interested if you noticed any vehicles with a livestock wagon or vehicle towing a livestock trailer that seemed to be leaking oil at any junctions in the area.

“If you did, please contact 101, and the incident reference number is X092070.”