A PAIR of bungling raiders have been branded the stupidest criminals in Britain after their attempt to steal a trailer turned into a farce.

The duo, a man and a teenage boy, who tried to take Kenneth Elgey's Ifor Williams open-topped sheep trailer from outside his home in Valley Terrace, Howden-le-Wear, County Durham, didn't just leave empty-handed - they left a pile of their own equipment behind.

That was after the teenager was run over by the trailer he was trying to steal as the driver sped off without shutting the tailgate of his white Sierra Estate.

With Mr Elgey's neighbours watching in amazement, the car set off in the direction of Bishop Auckland leaving a trail of plumbing tools falling out on to the road.

Mr Elgey, who works as head river warden for Wear Valley District Council, said: "It was a real farce. Just like a comic film. They have to be the dumbest criminals in Britain.

"The trailer is normally secured to the side of my house but I left it in the car port because we have builders working at the moment. The pair had pulled it out but they couldn't hitch it up because it has a special pin stopping it.

"The young lad, who was about 16 or 17, was lying underneath trying to work out how to do it when an couple of cars came up behind their's.

"The older one must have thought he was taking too long and panicked because he drove away, dragging the trailer on top of him.

"The lad appeared from nowhere and got up and ran to get into the car and then they sped off so fast that a load of gear fell out of the back.

"They must have been plumbers because it was that sort of gear. There were some trainers as well."

Officers have appealed for information to the attempted theft at 6pm on Monday. To help, call PC Peter Gowland on (01388) 762011.