Two men are to appear in court in connection with the theft of thousands of pounds worth of fruit from farms.

Thomas Hilden, 61 and Dominic Hilden, 31, both of Abbey Fields, Faversham, have been charged with theft after their bail expired on Tuesday.

The pair were arrested on Wednesday, August 31 as part of an investigation into the theft of strawberries and cherries.

Police from the Rural Task Force had been investigating after receiving reports in July that fruit had been stolen from various farms in and around Faversham and Tonge, near Sittingbourne.

There were three thefts near Church Road, Tonge, where between Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and 19, Friday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 26 about £1,600 worth of fruit was stolen.

A theft was also reported from land off Head Hill Road, Graveney, near Faversham, where between Thursday, July 7 and Friday, July 22 around £2,400 of fruit was stolen.

The men have been bailed to appear before Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Friday, December 2.