A BLIND countryman with a passion for rabbiting says his life has been ruined by raiders who stole his pet lurchers.

Jet and Tina disappeared from a locked compound at Ken Diston's cottage in Stoulton a week ago and, despite a police hunt, no trace of them has been found.

Mr Diston, aged 59, who was blinded by a shotgun blast 40 years ago while out rabbiting, was shopping in Tesco last Thursday when the thieves struck.

"Sometime between 4.50pm and 5.30pm when I got back the raiders jemmied the lock off my dog shed and stuffed both of them in the back of a van.

"My terrier Sally ran off after it because she thought they were going rabbiting and wondered why she wasn't going too."

A passer-by, walking her dog, spotted the lone terrier and took it to Danemere Kennels thinking it was a stray.

"I had a hell of a job getting her back," said Mr Diston, who bred one of his lurchers, Jet.

"I'm absolutely gutted about it. Rabbiting's my life. I've just been sitting here swearing for a week."

He said friend Bob Horton noticed the shed door open as the pair were preparing for another rabbiting trip.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "My father gave the police descriptions, but so far there's been no sightings.

"I think travellers took them to rabbit or sell on. There's a lot of money to be made in hare-coursing at the moment with all the betting on dogs and the like.

"Anyone who's worth their salt should keep a close eye on their dogs. Keep them locked up."

Jet is three-years-old, black with a white belly and patches on her feet, and stands around 23ins tall.

Tina is described as white with brindled markings, 18-months-old and around 19ins high.

Police spokeswoman Fiona Harrison said: ''I can confirm that the theft of the lurchers has been reported to us and that we are investigating.

''I appeal to anyone with information to contact police on 01905 723888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.