THIEVES stole thousands of pounds of meat when they raided a Burnley butchers.

J&D Whelan Butchers was cleared of thousands of pounds of meat, including lamb, beef, pork and 45lb turkeys, when thieves raided the store in Albert Street.

Thieves first entered the office of the shop between 5.30pm last Thursday and 7.25am the following day and took the keys to a Nissan Vanette, registration PN51 HKY, which was also stolen.

Police said £9,000 worth of meat was taken from the shop, which supplies meat for catering and hospitality functions.

The owner of the shop, who did not want to be named, said a second van must have been used in light of the quantity of meat taken. He said: "Who ever did this had been weighing the job up for quite some time.

"They took everything, cleared all the fridges.

"I was taken back when I first got there.

"There were considerable numbers of turkey in there weighing 45lbs, as well as lamb, beef and pork.

"We have been hit before but never on this scale."