A MUSICIAN is distraught after the theft of the drum kit he has had since he was a teenager.

Peter Roberts, who plays in a band called The Majorities, has owned the Premier drum kit for nearly 40 years.

The band, which also includes North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes on saxophone, played a charity concert which raised £1,100 for Amnesty International and Oxfam at Darlington Arts Centre on Saturday. After the concert, Mr Roberts return to his home in Pierremont Drive, Darlington.

Because he was tired, he left the drum kit in his car and it was stolen in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Roberts, 54, said: "I bought the bass drum when I was 15-years-old, and I've looked after it all these years."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.