A LLANELLI woman is in a real flap after her three pet chickens were taken during a burglary.

Yolande Rees-Hopkins, 33, couldn't believe it when the chickens were taken from her mum's home in Glasfryn last weekend.

She said burglars had taken items from the garage during a raid the week before, returning again the same weekend to be chased away by Yolande and her former police dog, Alsatian Lex.

But the animal lover, who owns three sausage dogs, two chihuahuas, a tortoise and a number of snakes, said: "Our Alsatian is like a bear, and they had seen him," said Yolande.

"I heard somebody and I shouted 'stop or I'll let the dog on you'."

Despite thinking they had been scared away, Yolande said the burglars returned the next weekend, leaving with bantams Henrietta, Nugget and Fajita in tow.

She said if they were expecting to turn a profit they would be sorely disappointed.

"They haven't even started laying yet because they are still babies," said Yolande. "I should have realised what they were planning when they took our bags of sawdust.

"My sister Sian and my cousin's children are really upset.

"I'm worried somebody might eat them, I just don't want anybody to be cruel to them."

She is offering a £50 reward for their safe return, adding: "I don't give a stuff about anything else, I just want my chickens to be safe."

A police spokeswoman said officers were investigating the theft and anyone with information should call 101.