THIEVES stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of computing equipment in a dawn raid, police revealed today.

Raiders struck in the early hours of Sunday in Padiham, and Simonstone.

An articulated tractor unit was stolen from the yard of haulage firm Seaways, in Blackburn Road, Simonstone.

Then later, a trailer loaded with sophisticated computer equipment was taken from Cowies Transport, in Park Road, Padiham.

Owner John Cowie said: "I was on my way to Spain when one of my drivers told me the trailer had gone. It is a big problem for us. We've been going since 1982 and never had anything like this happen to us.

"There are cameras everywhere and on all the roads leading to the depot."

The articulated unit and trailer were discovered miles away in Rotherham on Monday. Forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of both vehicles.

The valuable cargo of IBM equipment was on its way from a depot in Scotland to its destination in Hungary.

Anyone with information should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144.