A FAMILY are appealing for the return of a horse-drawn carriage stolen last weekend.

The hand-made carriage was built six years ago by Mark Bielby for his sister Andrea to use in carriage-driving competitions.

On Sunday evening it was securely locked and covered with tarpaulin in a field on the A174 Saltburn Road, Brotton. On Monday morning, Andrea's mum Shirley, of Hutchinson Street, Brotton, discovered it had been stolen. She said: "It's very heavy and can carry four people so its not the sort of thing you can just pick up and walk away with.

"We think someone must have seen it being loaded onto a trailer and would urge them to tell the police as soon as possible. We really want it back as my daughter won't be able to take part in any races."

Anyone with information can call police on (01642) 326326