Police are appealing for information after over a large quantity of coal was stolen from a Lancaster industrial estate.

The incident took place over the New Year weekend, between Saturday 31st December and Tuesday 3rd January.

The offender approached the unit belonging to E & S Fuels on the Lune Industrial Estate and stole over 200 bags of coal that were on pallets worth over £1,000.

PC Nicola Hayton from Lancaster police said, “A vehicle must have been used in order to transport the large bags of coal. I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and witnessed any suspicious activity to come forward and contact the police.

“If anyone has been offered cheap bags of coal, I would also be keen to speak to them in order to try and identify the people responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Lancaster police on 101.

• People with information can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.