A FAMILY were left scratching their heads when they returned home to Oxford after a two-week holiday to find thieves had stolen their fish - and the pond they were in.

Dave and Barbara Radbourne and their 14-year-old son Sam were bemused to find a gaping hole where their water feature once stood.

The pond, which had about 30 fish in it, including koi carp, goldfish and shubunkins was in a fenced-off garden opposite their home in Lye Valley, Headington.

Sam, a pupil at St Gregory the Great School, in Oxford, said he went straight outside to check his fish when he got back from the family holiday to Florida.

But he was stunned to discover they - and the entire pond - had gone.

He said: "I just wondered what had happened. They had taken everything - the fish, the pump, the plants. I was quite annoyed."

Mr Radbourne said the 3m x 2m pond mould had been cemented into the ground, and the edges had been covered with paving stones.

He said: "It must have taken them ages to move it all. To get rid of the water alone would have taken an hour or two."

Mrs Radbourne said: "When Sam told me the pond had gone I laughed at first. I couldn't believe it.

"How do you secure a pond? You can't do more than cement it in the ground - we can hardly chain a pond down.

"We told people and they though it was the pond lining that had been stolen but the whole mould, water, lilies and fish were gone.

"I don't have a clue how they got it out.

"They would have been there for some time."

The pond is estimated to be worth about £400, plus the cost of the fish and water lilies.

The family reported the theft to police, and are hoping to replace the pond with insurance money.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Kate Smith said: "It's possible the offenders used a vehicle to escape, and they may have been there some time trying to remove the pond."

The Radbournes were away in Florida between October 2 and 16 when the thieves struck.

Anyone who saw people behaving suspiciously in the area should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.