A Dunsford farm is stepping up security after £2,000 of cider, chutney, honey and marmalade was stolen last Monday, July 18.

It's thought the raiders managed to unlock the sequence coded gate and kicked in the door to get to the goods in a cider barn in a remote location on the Exeter to Moretonhampstead road.

They then used a vehicle to transport the Brimblecombe Cider and food items, sometime between 6pm-8pm.

'This is the first time something like this has happened in 16 years of running the farm,' said Ron Barter, who owns the company and lives at Lowley Farm.

'We work hard running a beef farm and making the cider and other items. It's not an easy business to be in, so for someone to break in is most annoying and frustrating.'

'The tenant in the neighbouring property heard noise coming from the farm but didn't see anything as there is a 15ft cob wall separating the buildings,' said Mr Barter.

A police spokesman said that there were several footprints at the location and as each barrel weighs 25kg, a vehicle would have been used by the offenders.

'Cider is something we don't see stolen everyday,' said the police spokesman. 'We are appealing for anyone who noticed anything suspicious to contact the police. 'We are also asking anyone who is offered the cider for sale to speak to the police.'

Brimblecombe's Cider is organic and produced in a Devon longhouse where generations have produced the windfall wonder for more than 450 years. Mr Barter grows more than 30 varieties of apples, the names of which sing like music, Tom Putts, Fair Maids of Devon, Brown's, Hand Me Downs and Slap Me Lasses. Anyone with information should call 08452 777444 and quote the police ref: JC/11/620