BURGLARS raided a solicitors' office and stole a safe and office equipment while people partied yards away in a nightclub.

Police believe the raid on Darling and Stephensons, in Barnard Castle, next door to the Folly's nightclub, took place late on Friday night.

Detectives said the burglary could have gone unnoticed because the nightclub's music drowned out noise made during the break-in.

The burglars broke in by smashing a back-door window of the office, then took a safe and thousands of pounds worth of office equipment.

Police believe the raiders then loaded their haul into a van or car, parked in a nearby restaurant car park.

The safe was found abandoned in Harrogate yesterday.

Detective Constable Neil Jones, of Bishop Auckland CID, said: "The safe had been broken into, but there was luckily very little of value in for them to steal.

"The raid probably happened on Friday night, but could have happened at any time during the weekend.

"It looks as though they may have staked the office out for some time, and they certainly took as much as they could."

Police are appealing to anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously near the solicitor's office, or the nearby Hole-in- the-Wall restaurant car park.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Barnard Castle police, on (01833) 637328.