HUNDREDS of people living in rural communities are suffering from rising levels of crime as the impact of the recession continues to be felt, according to new figures.

Latest figures suggest rural theft north of the Border has risen 12%, despite falls in many parts of England in 2012. Across the UK, the figure is down by almost 20%.

NFU Mutual, which carried out the UK-wide survey, found the cost to rural communities is around £42.3 million.

Tools, quad bikes and fuel are the most commonly targeted items.

Cattle grids, farm gates, sheep and even cattle are all also fair game for thieves.

Heating fuel was the third most attractive commodity for rural thieves.

Thieves drained Alec Macdonald's 1000 litre oil tank at the croft house he rents out on northeast Skye.

He re-filled it at a cost of almost £1000 but days later it was empty again. Mr Macdonald said: "My neighbour lives only 20 or 30 yards away and didn't hear a thing.

"It is the sort of community where nobody would lock their doors, but after being robbed twice within a few days I even considered getting CCTV installed on the croft. Luckily it hasn't happened since."

Regionally, the largest falls in crime were seen in the Midlands (down 32%) and the Southwest (down 26%). Bob Carruth, of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland, said: "In the last year to 18 months as well as the things commonly targeted across the UK we have also seen an increase in the theft of livestock and metal theft in Scotland."