A pair of pygmy goats believed stolen from a field have been returned under the cover of darkness.

Eric and Ernie were last seen by owner Tracey Giles on land she rents in Aylesford when she left them on Monday evening.

When she returned to feed the animals on Tuesday morning, there was no sign of the pair or of any escape - leading her to contact police and report them stolen from their home in Rochester Road.

The 54-year-old said: “I left at 5pm then came back at 9am and they were not there.

"There was just no noise, their fence is intact. I have got quite a bit of land here and they don’t normally go far, they can only have been stolen.

"They are just part of the family really."

The upsetting disappearance of the cute pair was reported on KentOnline shortly after they were found to be missing.

But when Ms Giles went to the fields this morning she found they had been returned safe and sound.

"Back waiting for me at the main field gate," she said. "One with a bit of bale twine round his neck.

"Both staving hungry, but happy eating breakfast."

The disappearance came amid a wave of pet snatching, believed to be fuelled by demand for furry friends during lockdown.

An 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of theft after a puppy went missing in Dartford on Good Friday.

Read more: All the latest news from Malling

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone