Man charged over £80,000 rural crimes

A man has been charged in connection with rural crime worth about £80,000, involving the theft of sheep dogs, cattle and farming equipment.

Police Scotland said the 29-year-old, from the Alford area, was expected in court at a later date.

Four sheep dogs, worth about £15,000, were stolen from the Huntly area in January last year. They were traced.

A tractor, digger and trailer worth £34,000 were taken from the Lumphanan area in June last year.

They were also recovered.

The man was also charged in relation to the theft of cattle worth nearly £30,000 from Kinellar and Monymusk in June and July last year.