RAIDERS made off with more than £20,000 worth of stainless steel from a New Forest company's yard in the early hours of Friday morning.

The thieves struck at Puma Engineering, in Woodlands Road, Woodlands, between 2am and 4am.

It would have taken at least four people to lift the stainless steel pipes that were taken from the yard, which is situated off the main road.

The stolen piping is in lengths of six metres and varies in size from one inch to 12 inches in diameter. The larger pipes have a single grey paint line along them.

Police are urging anyone who saw people acting suspiciously in the area in recent weeks, or who saw vehicles parked near the premises or driving slowly past, to contact them.

One witness has reported seeing a lorry leaving the site at 3.55am, which drove off in the direction of Ashurst, and police want to hear from any other witnesses.