Equipment stolen from a Kent farm was found in a neighbouring county just hours after the theft was reported.

A post knocker and a hay tedder - a machine used for haymaking - were taken from a farm in Southfleet, near Gravesend, on Monday evening.

Police were called and the equipment was traced to an address in Surrey where it was recovered the next day.

No arrests have been made but inquiries are continuing.

Since the beginning of the year, officers from the Rural Task Force have recovered stolen property worth more than £280,000, from tools and farm machinery to vehicles and horseboxes.

Their work so far this year has led to 34 arrests, 35 stop and searches, 506 vehicle stop checks and the completion of 75 investigations.

Incidents they have dealt with have also resulted in 112 vehicles being seized and 97 traffic offence reports being issued for reasons including driving without insurance, a licence or MOT and other motoring offences like speeding and driving without a seat belt or whilst being on a mobile phone.

"This is not acceptable and we will continue to do all we can to protect victims from crime..."

The task force has also dealt with 182 wildlife-related incidents and 146 poaching reports.

Sgt Darren Walshaw said: “Typical rural crimes reported to police include theft, fly-tipping, hare coursing and poaching and rural officers attend regular regional and national meetings to share expertise and good practice with other forces.

“Thefts of farming equipment, like this hay tedder, is not just upsetting for victims but it leaves a huge financial hole in a farming business and can be the end of someone’s livelihood.

“This is not acceptable and we will continue to do all we can to protect victims from crime.”