A MAN has been left counting the cost after thieves damaged a £700 dovecote, to steal £25 worth of lead.

Thieves damaged Kenny Deane’s £700 bird home to steal just £25 of scrap lead.

He returned to his Quarry Road home with his wife on Friday to find the dovecote on the grass, with part of its roof missing.

“While we were away, people broke into the garden and somehow managed to knock it down, which is quite hard as it is set in concrete,” said Mr Deane, 55, adding that it took six men to lift it when installed.

“I thought it must have been an annoyed neighbour, but the doves don’t leave the garden.

“It costs about £700 but the scrap value of the lead is only £25. I find it amazing that someone is desperate enough to do it for £25. I’m upset that people have stooped to that level.”

Mr Deane, who creates art out of old vinyl records and sells them at Winchester market, said he has been keeping up to 25 of the pet doves for more than three years.

He added: “I’ve got to get a new dovecote now, I’ve managed to cobble together what was left so the doves have a home.”

As long as they’ve got food and shelter they won’t disappear.”

Police are currently investigating the theft, but Mr Deane said that he wasn’t pinning his hopes of finding the culprits.

He said: “The police have been great, but they’re not exactly going to send over MI5. We have got CCTV but unfortunately the dovecote was out of range. That will be changing.”

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed they had received reports of the theft, which took place sometime between 10am on October 5 and 10am on October 6.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting reference number 44170387753.