Two baby pedigree pygmy goats have been kidnapped during a daring raid on a paddock.

The five-week-old animals, a boy and a girl named Benjamin and Belinda, were snatched at 10pm last night (Saturday) by a masked man who made his getaway while hanging onto the back of a Peugeot 307.

The goats’ distraught owner Michelle Keeley, 39, said today: “I am very worried about them. They are too young to survive without their mother.

"Neither of them has been weaned so they can’t be fed from a bottle.

“I fear for their safety. I just hope the thief has a conscience and once he realises they need their mother he arranges for them to be safely returned.”

She added: “The goats have no momentary value but are of great sentimental value to me. I presume they were stolen to be children’s pets. Because they are pygmies they only grow to 17 to 22 inches tall so they aren’t big enough for milking or eating.”

The raid happened in the village of Halstead near Sevenoaks.

Michelle, a veterinary nurse, has built up a herd of 19 goats over the past five years. She said: “I keep them as pets and for showing. This is so upsetting. The kids will be screaming their heads off without their mother.

“They only turned five weeks on Wednesday. This must have been a pre-planned raid. The thief had to get over two fences and a padlocked gate. He must have been very determined and brazen to have stolen the goats while the lights were still on at the house next door.”

Incredibly, the raider was disturbed as he tried to make off with the goats’ mother, Georgia. A friend of Michelle’s spotted him in the act, struggling to carry the goat to the getaway car and made him put it down.

Michelle said: “The man, who was wearing a skeleton mask, dropped Georgia and ran off. He jumped on to the back of the car which was then driven off by an accomplice.

“It was only when we counted the goats that we realised the two kids must have already been in the car. I was going to keep the girl for myself and the boy was reserved for someone else.

“They are so young they had not even been registered. They aren’t worth anything without their papers. The goats normally go in at night but because it had been such a hot day they must have fallen asleep outside.”

Police are searching for a white 53-plate Peugeot 307 with black roof bars. The man is described as white and well-built.

If you have seen the car or know of someone who has recently acquired two bleating goats, call police on 101 quoting reference 8291 or Ross on 07974 439685.