The friendly Falabella called Parker is believed to have been taken from Avins Farm overnight on Thursday.

Owners of the family pet were shocked to find he was missing from the field on Friday morning.

The heavy iron gate had been shut when the owners left Parker but the next day it was discovered wide open.

Owner Caroline De Klee said: "Someone went to feed him and came back and said he wasn't in the field but all the sheep were still there.

"The gate can only be opened by a human and there is no way he could have escaped as he would have run straight to the mares in a nearby field. I have rung all the neighbours and farms and nobody has seen him.

"He is very friendly but gets excited easily so can be a bit of a handful. It is very sad. When I tell the children they will be very shocked."

If anyone has any information please contact Haywards Heath police on 0845 60 70 999.