A care farm that provides help for adults with learning difficulties has been left reeling after a callous theft.

Lainey's Farm off Pagehurst Road in Staplehurst was targeted by thieves at the weekend.

They cut a chain around a field gate with bolt-cutters to gain access to the farm's estate tractor.

Toby Marsh, who runs the 10-acre farm with his partner Elaine Symes, said: "It appears they loaded the tractor onto a vehicle transporter because there are tracks across the field and a D where they turned round."

Mr Marsh described the theft as "very upsetting."

Ironically, Mr Marsh had been building a pole-barn to store the tractor and was at the final stage of putting on the roof.

He said: "We use the tractor for mowing and hauling a trailer around. It's particularly useful in the winter, when it gets muddy."

Laineys employs eight staff and has one volunteer worker. It currently offers training sessions to 39 adults who suffer with autism or Downs Syndrome.

Mr Marsh said: "They need routine and anything that disturbs the routine disturbs them."

Since the tractor had a low-gear ratio, he had previously been able to allow some of the more able students to drive it under supervision. That opportunity is now gone.

The thieves also took a heavy, double-hooked towing chain, which last winter Mr Marsh used to rescue around a dozen people trapped by snow.

The farm had acquired the tractor second-hand in 2015, a year after Laineys opened. The red Foton 2400 tractor was worth around £2,000.

Mr Marsh said: "Since we discovered the theft on Monday, we've been busy beefing up our security, adding extra chains and double padlocks.

"But it's a sad reflection on society that you have to bolt everything down, that people think that just because they see something is there it's all right to go and take it."

His partner Elaine Symes was less circumspect. She said: "These people are absolute scum."

The theft is being investigated by the police Rural Task Force. The farm's Facebook post about the theft has been viewed by 14,000 supporters who are also now on the look-out.

It is the second time the farm has been hit. Almost the same time last year, thieves took chainsaws, a drill, a post-hole auger, boots and various hand tools.

Anyone who sees the tractor is asked to inform police, quoting crime number: YY/038275/18