A farm say they are "devastated" after a giant turkey sign was destroyed in the run-up to Christmas.

Georgia Lindstrom, 22, and her boyfriend Charlie Deacon, 26, have been rearing turkeys at Westwick Hall Farm for a year now and say they pride themselves on "top welfare standards from day one".

But they were upset to find that someone vandalised their sign in Hemel Hempstead Road last month.

The turkey's head had been ripped off and the words on the sign had been torn.

Watford Observer:

The sign after the vandals struck

Watford Observer:

Parts of the sign were found flytipped a mile down the the road.

Ms Lindstrom believes an animal rights activist may be responsible, but she hopes by publicising what happened near Potters Crouch, she can explain the farm's perspective when it comes to farming their animals for food.

She said: "We were devastated that someone could damage our sign like this with no explanation.

"We pride ourselves on high sustainability and top welfare standards from day one. Compared to some meats from supermarkets, our birds have the highest quality welfare throughout their lifetime.

"The birds don't leave the farm and they have a field to roam in."

Watford Observer:

Charlie and Georgia with their turkeys

Ms Lindstrom said she has been touched by the reaction from the farm's followers on Facebook, and although she understands some may not agree with killing animals for food, she does have a message for the person responsible for vandalising the turkey sign.

She added: "We respect that some people don't agree with meat-eating, but at the same time, we are producing our meat the best way we can with quality of life at the forefront. We rear the birds from one-day-old chicks in July.

"My message to the person responsible is try to understand and respect our intentions and understand what we are about."

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokeswoman said: "Police were made aware of an incident of criminal damage on Thursday November 21.

"An advertising display outside of a business property in Beechtree Lane, St Albans was damaged.

"Following extensive enquiries, the case was finalised due to a lack of identification opportunities. However, should any further information come to light it will be acted upon accordingly."