A STEELWORKS that is fighting its way back after closure has been devastated by the theft of more than £100,000 of metal.

Thieves broke into Weardale Steel, in Wolsingham, County Durham, and made off with raw material and completed products, which they loaded on to one of the company's trucks.

Among the haul were seven ship's anchors, part of an order for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), worth £15,000 each, and chrome, nickel and silicon nuggets.

The items, which weighed up to a tonne each, were loaded on to a dark red Ford Cargo lorry, which was seen leaving the compound at about 11pm on Wednesday.

Tyneside businessman Les Graham saved the company from closure when his firm, Anglo-Swedish, took over the 140-year-old plant a year ago.

About 80 workers were laid off when the company went into administration in October 2002, but under Mr Graham the workforce is gradually being rebuilt. At the moment Weardale Steel employs about 40 people.

He said the theft was a major blow for the firm.

He said: "It has disrupted our melting programme and if the anchors are not retrieved it could affect our relationship with the MoD, with whom we have a good contract.

"The loss of our only flatback vehicle, which is used daily for collecting materials and deliveries, is also a big loss.

"There is plenty of work to keep the 40-plus staff busy so jobs aren't threatened but it is a real setback when we are trying to move on."

Police are appealing for motorists in the area who might have passed the vehicle to get in touch.

Its registration is B932 PDC and has not been traced.

There is also an appeal for information about a white estate car, seen near the steelworks between 8pm and 9pm.

Detective Sergeant Dunny McCubbin said: "To state the obvious, this was not an opportunist crime.

"It has clearly been planned in advance and well executed, but at the moment we don't know how many were involved in the operation."

Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with Detective Constable Karl Hopps, on (01388) 603566, or Crimstoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

* The company is offering a cash reward for information leading to the conviction of the thieves.