The manager of a family-run pet supplies business is appealing for information following the theft in broad daylight a 40kg sign advertising his Folkestone business...

Lee Curd, manager of Best Buddies Pet Supplies, said the sign advertising his Martello Drive shop was stolen from Dymchurch Road.

He has appealed on Facebook and spoken to traders in the area but to no avail.

Mr Curd said: "I couldn't believe it, I thought somebody had moved it as a joke.

"They must have done it in broad daylight and they would've had to hold up the traffic to do it, it's terrible. It's sad that someone has to steal a road sign out of the road, it's not fun.

"The sign brings in trade that otherwise would not come. There are a lot of people that come down for the day or a few days and fish and they wouldn't know we exist if it weren't for the sign – it makes a big difference.

"I've had no information at all. Our CCTV is all inside and I spoke to the local shop owners and they said they hadn't seen the incident and their CCTV didn't point on to the spot.

"Someone must've seen it. It was there in the morning and gone when we left just after 6pm. The thing weighs 40kg, it would've taken a couple of guys to lift it off – they're mad. They must've done it with a car or a van."

The business, which also has a branch in Cheriton, has since replaced the sign, which prompted staff to order another due to be bought.

"It cost me £140 for two signs and £40 for the chains to attach them to lamp posts plus the writing. So it's in excess of £200. It's an expense I didn't really want," Mr Curd said.

"I've heard a lot of people have had signs stolen, someone in Romney told me they had, but I don't know why they would've taken them. Maybe it's competition, maybe it's kids although we don't have a problem around here with kids.

"Maybe it's because they're worth quite a bit of money. They're not cheap – about £70 and that's before you get everything written on it."