A LORRY driver was tied up and dumped in a lay-by after robbers hijacked his vehicle and stole a £20,000 load of Easter eggs.

Driver Paul Motler, 30, was tied up for more than nine hours and dumped, along with his vehicle, in a lay-by at Bull Hill, Darwen, after being set upon at the Knutsford service station on the M6, Cheshire, by a masked man who was waiting inside the cab when he returned to the vehicle.

The robber bound his wrists and ankles and bundled him into the sleeping compartment at the rear of the articulated lorry at about 4.30am yesterday.

His attacker then drove off, stopping once to pick up accomplices and again to unload the 32 pallets of Mars, Snickers and Celebrations chocolate eggs.

Paul, who later told police he was driven around for several hours, managed to climb out of the white Leyland Daf lorry in the lay-by, and was discovered by passing police officers at 2pm.

The agency driver, of Moston, Manchester, was unhurt but badly shaken. He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and treated for shock.

Detective Inspector Tony Harling, of Blackburn CID, appealed for anyone who saw the lorry, marked Hill Hire, or any other vehicles in the lay-by between 8.30am and 2pm to contact him.

Police are also anxious to trace a tachograph which was missing from the lorry when it was examined by officers.

He said: "Obviously this is an isolated spot and we are looking for any witnesses."

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