SIXTY families are scrambling to fill a gap in the centre of their Christmas dinner table after a barnful of turkeys was stolen.

The hand-reared birds at Ryecroft Nurseries in Storrington went missing overnight on Sunday, shortly after they had been culled and plucked to fulfil Christmas orders.

The thieves knocked down a farm gate and also stole clothes and items of great sentimental value from farmer Philip Godsmark.

His partner Mary Ann told The Argus it was a devastating blow.

She said: “It’s so upsetting. Everything was done and ready, Philip and his brother had spent days culling and hand-plucking the birds. We’re only a small business.”

The birds were worth around £4,500.

Mary Ann, 58, said: “I’ve had to call everyone in my little order book, but even if all they’d taken were the birds maybe I could have handled it. But they also took coats and shoes and a knife from Philip’s dad which has great sentimental value.”

The theft, in Fryern Road on the outskirts of Storrington, took place between 6.30pm on Sunday night and 6.30am on Monday morning, when Philip went down to check on his produce and was aghast to discover the break-in.

The small family farm grows the maize, corn, spinach and chard on which the birds are fed.

Their turkeys are hand fed over a period of six months to reach maturity naturally.

All the birds had been pre-sold and Ros Lewis, a retiree in Siddleworth who has bought her festive bird from Ryecroft for years, said Christmas just won’t be the same.

She said: “It’s absolutely devastating what’s happened to them, they’re such honest, honourable, hardworking people.

“I can get another bird - a lesser bird - but it won’t be the same, they rear them with such care and love over such a long period.”

PC Mike Russo said: “I have no idea where they’re going to try to sell them, it’s not like you can just approach people in the street and offer to sell them a turkey, it’d be a bit suspicious.

"I would ask anyone who was in the area on Sunday night and who saw anything suspicious to get in touch.

“We'd also like to hear from anyone who saw any unusual behaviour in the days leading up to the burglary.”

Anyone with information should call 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 152 of December 19.