A horse-owner from Ashford is desperate for his beloved animals to be found before Christmas.

Philly Powell has kept his two horses in a field near Charing Heath for almost six months, yet when he went to visit them last Wednesday he discovered they were missing.

It is believed Rosie and Blanche were taken between the afternoon of Tuesday, December 5 and before 9.30am on Wednesday, December 6.

Mr Powell said: “I’m distraught, I have no idea what’s happened to them.

“I go up and see them every day, normally twice a day, but then when I went up last week they were nowhere to be seen.”

“We’ve just been out and bought them new rugs to wear now it’s got colder.”

Mr Powell has had both horses for nearly six months, one of them he had to nurse back to health.

He continued: “I haven’t been able to tell my son yet because he’ll be devastated, especially this close to Christmas.

“I’d be okay if I knew they were safe, it’s just the not knowing where they are or if they’re being looked after properly, especially because there’s been so much cruelty going on recently.

“They’re our pets and in perfect condition, we just want them back.”

A police spokesman said: “Two ponies were reported stolen from a field off Egerton Road, Charing Heath, between 2pm on 5 December and 9.30am the following day.

“One pony is described as being between 12.1 and 12.2 hands high, and was piebald in colour (black and white) with a long plaited mane and a white face.

“The second pony is described as 12 hands high, skewbald in colour (brown and white) with a white mane.

“Both are mares and both were wearing rugs when they were reported stolen.”

Anyone with information about the ponies is asked to phone police on 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference number ZY/60351/17.