Sheep worth approximately £2000 were reported as having been stolen from a field last week.
We can now confirm that the forty-two animals were not actually stolen but seized from a farm on Artists Lane, Nether Alderley, because the owner is banned from keeping animals.
Eight dogs were also placed into the care of the RSPCA.
A RSPCA spokesperson said "A number of sheep and dogs have been seized from a farm on Artists Lane, Nether Alderley by police and placed in RSPCA care.
"Forty two sheep and eight collie-type dogs were removed on Thursday 9th August on the grounds that the person responsible for them is banned from keeping animals.
"No further information is available at this time as our investigation is on-going."
