DETECTIVES were today hunting the thieves who raided a top-of-the-range clothing shop - and made off with up to £30,000 worth of stock.

Staff at Geoffrey Gillow, in Darlington, returned to work yesterday to find that a vast array of exclusive clothing and accessories was missing. The shop is the only North-East outlet for many big name brands, including Shirley Pinder, Brax and Liz Cox.

The ladies' fashion department was completely cleared out and other areas badly affected in what police believe was a carefully planned raid. The thieves broke into the building, on Grange Road, via a first-floor window.

It is thought that the alarm was triggered when they then tried to gain access to the ground floor.

Trousers, leather jackets, handbags, scarves, shirts and other expensive items were taken in the raid, which occurred between 4.30pm on New Year's Eve and 9am yesterday.

Brands included Brax, Sand, New Man, Hide Park, John Smedley, Shirley Pinder and Liz Cox.

Police are now hoping to raise public awareness of the incident, ahead of car boot sales and busy times for pubs and clubs this weekend.

Detective Constable Danny Townsend, of Darlington police, said: "We are talking about clothing with a retail value of between £20,000 and £30,000.

"It is expensive stuff and I don't think there are any other shops in the region which have it.

"If it were to crop up at pubs or car boot sales, it should be recognisable."

Owner Geoffrey Gillow said today: "It's such a cruel way to start the new year, we're devastated really.

"I've been desperately trying to ring round suppliers and get Spring stock in early.

"It's pretty devastating in an immediate sense because now is when we're supposed to be really busy." He said police forensics experts who visited the shop yesterday had indicated that it looked like "a professional job".

Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681.