There are few things as naturally produced or as good for you as honey, and few people more passionate about what they do than beekeepers.

So it was with a real sense of horror that Lewdown beekeeping father and daughter partnership David Barriball and Sarah Kitson learned last week that nine of their hives and 200,000 bees had been destroyed near Trerulefoot.

Somebody stole a tractor and drove it not once but twice over a line of hives. The tractor crossed the main road between Trerulefoot and St Germans on the journey. It is believed the offence happened at about 2am last Tuesday week, but the damage was not found until three days later, by which time most hopes of salvaging the survivors was lost.

David, who has been keeping bees for several years and has hives all over Devon and Cornwall, said: 'I had to give up work to look after my kids, and took up bee-keeping as a hobby.

'It grew from there, and a year ago my daughter Sarah joined me. She processes the honey and sells it at local fairs.'

His real passion was plain when he said with emphasis 'I love my bees. I can't describe how shocking this is. It has to be a local — you wouldn't know the hives were there without stumbling over them, so it seems very deliberate.

'I'd like the person responsible to be made to spend time with me and the bees, to learn about them, but also to see if they are brave enough to be surrounded by thousands of them.'

David is offering a year's supply of honey for information leading to the detection of the offender.

The matter has been reported to the Police and the Neighbourhood Team at Saltash are dealing with it. Anyone with information should call 08452 777444 and quote OIS 168/221010.