Thieves made off with 50 animals including dogs, cats and hens after smashing equipment in a raid on a Sussex farm.

The raiders broke into Quimpers Stud at Rodmell, near Lewes, at night and took 23 dogs, seven puppies, 14 cats, four bantam hens, a hamster and a wild hare.

Before leaving they vandalised two cars, two tractors, a land Rover, a lorry and several trailers belonging to the Joyce family, who run the farm.

The vandals, whom the Joyces believe to be animal rights activists, poured paint stripper on to vehicles and filled a horse box with diesel.

Barbara Joyce said: "They have smashed the farm up and stolen all my dogs and rescued cats.

"They have taken four hens which belonged to my little girl, Charlotte, and her friend. They were their pets and they are very upset.

"They have also taken my old pet dog. It just feels awful being without them."

The animals included a German shepherd guard dog called Tyson, which the family said could be dangerous, and several rescue dogs with volatile temperaments.

Mrs Joyce, and her son Oliver believe some of the dogs could be dangerous if rehomed as family pets.

Many of the animals had been taken to the farm after they turned out to be unsuitable as pets. Mrs Joyce's son was retraining them as working sheepdogs by Mrs Joyce's son.

Several border collies are missing, one of which had been taken in by the family after it mauled its previous owner's six-month-old baby.

Some of the dogs taken were on medication. Another was undergoing tests for epilepsy.

Mrs Joyce said: "I suppose they will be very proud of what they have done and think they have rescued these animals.

"The trouble is, they had already been rescued by us and we were looking after them. We take in unwanted dogs and look after them.

"OK, the farm looks very scruffy but it does not mean we don't care about the animals.

"Some of the dogs were kept chained up in the barn at night but it was either that or have them put down because nowhere else would take them. We are in the middle of building a new kennel block to put them in.

"The dogs are happy here and they want for nothing. They run around free all day long and there is no one around to disturb them.

"I think they are happier than if they were kept in someone's house all day with only the occasional ten-minute walk on a lead."

Sussex Police are investigating the thefts.

In 1998, Oliver Joyce was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to cows and his mother of permitting unnecessary suffering to cows.

The animals were removed but the Joyces were not fined or banned from keeping cows.