Roosters are being stolen to take part in illegal cockfighting contests, according to a Sussex farmer.

Rod Padwick lost two prize-winning cockerels when thieves raided his coops.

He is sure they were taken for cockfighting as the thieves ignored the hens.

But he said the culprits would get a shock when they tried to make them fight because both birds were placid.

Mr Padwick, 51, who has a smallholding off Bostall Road, Sompting, said: "I had been lambing until 9.30pm and went to the farm at 4.30am.

"I found every chicken coop door open and my two biggest cockerels missing.

"They were obviously looking for ones they could fight because they didn't take the young ones or my hens.

"Both were in runs with hens so they probably assumed they were too vicious to be put with each other and better to use in fights.

"One was a Buff Sussex cockerel and he was my favourite. He had won about 30 competitions. I could pick him up and put him on my shoulder.

"He used to go to agricultural shows with me and wander among the people. He was so tame it was embarrassing sometimes as he used to follow me like a dog. I'm very sad to have lost them. I have my doubts whether they are still alive."

Fellow poultry breeder Reg Moore had six of prize-winning bantam hens and a rooster stolen at the end of April.

But Mr Moore, 78, from Worthing, was lucky.

Within a couple of days a member of the public reported seeing a rooster wandering on a main road near Mash Barn Estate.

The police knew it must be Mr Moore's and reunited them.

Mr Moore kept the birds at the bottom of his garden. Thieves broke through a neighbour's fence and smashed a padlock to get at the coops.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "Cockfighting is illegal and comes under animal cruelty.

"Reports of this are very rare. We've only had five or six cockerels stolen in the whole of the county in the last three years. It's difficult to say if they were stolen for cockfighting or if it was because they were valuable birds."

Anyone with information is asked to phone Arun Valley Poultry Fancy Society on 01903 213674.