HOMING pigeons were stolen from a shed at a house in Prestonpans during the night.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the theft of 21 of the racing birds from the garden of a property on North Grange Grove last Tuesday night.

A community police officer told a meeting of Prestonpans Community Council the pigeons were discovered missing from the shed the following morning.

Ward councillor Fiona O'Donnell asked how they knew the pigeons had been stolen and not released.

She was told "They were homing pigeons, they would have come back."