Pigeon fanciers Barney Rhodes, 64, and his great nephew Billy Waddingham, eight, were distraught to find three pairs of breeding pigeons had been stolen from their loft on Wheldale Lane, Castleford, on Friday.

The theft has left Barney considering his future in pigeon breeding, which he uses to raise money for the Prince of Wales Hospice.

He told the Express: "I keep racing pigeons but these pairs have never been out of the loft. They are used for breeding and if anyone let them out, or threw them out, they would not find their way home. They would probably die on the streets.

"I breed pigeons and give hundreds away to people as well as selling them for the hospice. Two years ago I raised £3,600 of the hospice from a sale in Knottingley.

"I have kept pigeons since I was seven and this has never happened. The thieves have taken my three best pairs – they haven't taken random pigeons. They are my top pigeons and worth about £500 each, so they must have known what they were doing.

"It's really disheartening. It's knocked me for six. I don't feel like carrying on with them any more. I treat them like pets, that's how I feel about pigeons.

"Billy loves them too. When he's not at school, he's here with me. From being a baby, he's always been interested in the pigeons. I have told him the loft is his. He is really disheartened too."

Mr Rhodes is offering a reward for the pigeons' safe return.

Witnesses or anyone with information should contact Pontefract CID via 0845 6060606.