POLICE are hunting thieves who stole sports shirts worth £120,000 from a lorry parked overnight at a motorway service station.

The lorry was at Bowburn Services, on the A1(M) near Durham City, when the raiders struck on Tuesday night.

They took 1,000 cardboard boxes containing 4,000 to 5,000 shirts that were being taken to the Gateshead headquarters of Fila.

Police believe the thieves may have parked a vehicle in a farm road or on the motorway slip road and passed the boxes over the lorry park perimeter fence.

PC Michael Donnelly said: "If the vehicle had been in either of those locations then they would undoubtedly have been seen by drivers on the motorway or other people in the area.

"We would like to hear from anyone who might have spotted the thieves or might have information about the shirts."

About 300 of the shirts have the logo of Cardiff Rugby Football Club.

Anyone with information should call the police on 0191-386 4222 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111.