More than 40 pregnant sheep reportedly "stolen" from a field have been safely found two miles away on a university campus.

Police believed the ewes had been swiped from land in Chapel Lane, Blean, after fencing surrounding the site was damaged.

But the animals have since been discovered near a car park at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

Farmer Lauren Thompson, 22, says the sheep would have had to cross a road next to a village shop and is surprised nobody saw them.

Forty-four were originally reported missing but security workers at the campus found 45 - as one of the ewes had given birth.

Investigating officers believed the sheep - which were all expecting lambs - would have been loaded onto a truck at some point between 6pm on Saturday and 6am on Monday.

But Ms Thompson said she was told yesterday at about 5pm the sheep had been found.

She says the security workers at the uni cut a fence and put the animals in a field.

How the sheep managed to travel almost two miles undetected remains a mystery.

"It’s not too far by car but by foot it would have taken a while and for nobody to see them is odd," Ms Thompson said.

"They would definitely have had to cross the road between Blean [Village Store] and Tyler Hill.

"We can’t just ask the sheep.

"They could have run there, but it’s odd that nobody saw them.

"They have gone past quite a few houses and a university."

Ms Thompson believes the ewes would have travelled over roads and footpaths to reach the car park.

"If they escape, which they can do, it’s normally to the next bit of grass," she added.

"Something scared them out of the field, whether it was a dog or human.

"They could have been chased by kids thinking it was fun - we’ve had that before."

A police spokesman confirmed today the sheep have been located.

"Following enquiries, all of the sheep have been found on a separate piece of land," they said.

"It is not currently believed that any offences have taken place."