Thieves broke into kennels on St Albans Gorhambury Estate at the weekend and stole three dogs.

Herts police were called at about 12.10am on August 19 after it had been discovered a seven-year-old black and white female springer spaniel, a one-year-old black female patterdale, and a six-week-old black and tan puppy had been stolen.

The criminals damaged the gates and kennels to get inside between 11.30pm and 11.45pm on Saturday, August 18.

A Facebook post asking for information about this crime has been shared more than 2,000 times.

Gorhambury is a rural estate in St Albans which houses a number of historical sites, including the Roman Theatre, a house built by Sir Nicholas Bacon between 1510 and 1579 called Old Gorhambury, and a Grade II*-listed build by Sir Robert Taylor dated between 1777 and 1784 called Gorhambury House.

Viscount and Viscountess Grimston currently live at Gorhambury House with their young family.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The crime reference number is 41/28906/18.