AN eight-year-old girl with autism has been left heart-broken after her baby goats were stolen by thieves.

Naomi Taylor, from Rawtenstall, who also suffers from epilepsy, befriended the animals as she finds it hard to play with other children.

Her mum Jacqueline Gansler said the goats were taken just one week after they were born and if they weren't reunited with their mother soon, they could die.

She has now issued an appeal in a bid to prick the conscience of the thieves.

She said: “Its awful and so cruel. The baby goats need the milk from their mum regularly or they will die so I just wish whoever took them would bring them back.

“My daughter is autistic so it’s difficult to keep her interested in things.

“She really has taken to the goats which makes this even worse.”

Naomi, who attends Tor View Community Special School, lives at Hill View with her mum.

The family owned three adult goats and were delighted when one of the females got pregnant last year.

The stolen pygmy goats are both female and are approximately nine to 10 inches in height.

The first goat is black and white while the second is black with two grey ears and a grey muzzle.

Jacqueline added: “The baby goats cannot be sold because they would not be worth anything financially.

“But to me and my daughter they mean a lot so we need to get them back quickly.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Jacqueline on 07915 386551 or her partner Tony Parkinson on 07895 953519.