A WITNESS who saw a gang of men corner a businessman and drag him into a Transit van has come forward.

Police said the witness has provided crucial evidence in the hunt to find the gang that kidnapped Tony Pattison and held him hostage for 30 hours.

The married Hartlepool businessman was abducted at a car park at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, at about 2.30pm on Monday. A series of phone calls were made by the kidnappers to his brother, demanding that tens of thousands of pounds were handed over.

Speaking at the spot where Mr Pattison was kidnapped, Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn yesterday said the witness had seen the moment when Mr Pattison was dragged from his Vauxhall Vectra car.

He said: "A Transit van blocked Mr Pattison's car. The men then got out, and dragged him out of the car. Then they drove the van and Mr Pattison's car out of the car park. The witness saw the incident and has provided crucial information."

Det Supt Dunn said the witness saw at least three men.

Earlier this week, police arrested and released a 42-year-old Hartlepool man on bail pending inquiries.

A white Transit van was stopped in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday night, and police have recovered the ransom money.

Mr Pattison, who had been tied up overnight in an unknown building and was driven around for much of Tuesday, was freed at about 9.30pm on Tuesday along a dirt track near the Samsung factory, at Wynyard, near Stockton.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the incident room on (01642) 302186.

Police are particularly keen to speak to people who saw the van, registration Y599 GFT, on Monday or Tuesday.