RAIDERS who broke into a Ribble Valley industrial unit stole a van loaded with beds and some office equipment, worth a total of over £31,000.

The raid took place at a unit on the Simonstone industrial park and police are appealing for help in their inquiries.

The white Mercedes box van with a 'Sleepmaster' logo on the sides is believed to have headed in the Padiham direction as a fax machine stolen in the burglary was found dumped by the side of the road there.

A police spokesman said: "We do not know how the raiders got into the compound as it was surrounded by wire fencing, but they drove back out through the security gate.

The office at the unit was also broken into and two fax machines and a safe were stolen."

A spokesman for the company said: "We are a distribution warehouse and the van was already loaded ready for delivery.

"There has obviously been some kind of mix-up with the 24-hour security system we have on site, but business is going to be affected only in the short term."

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Colne police on 01282 863161.

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