BUNGLING burglars were spotted with their 20ft ladder propped up against the front of a post office in the early hours of yesterday.

They fled empty-handed after setting off an alarm at the shop in Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland.

From the ladder they had managed to cut through an outside alarm with an oxy-acetylene burner.

But postmaster David Ainscough thinks they triggered a back-up warning system when they lowered it through the roof.

He was open as usual yesterday after being called out with police at about 3.30am.

Mr Ainscough said: "I don't think they even got in themselves.

"They had the cheek to put the ladder up at the front and were seen by a neighbour.

"They got some tiles off the roof of a ground floor building at the back but they would never have got the safe.

"They must have had a truck to carry the burner and the ladder."

Detectives from Bishop Auckland police station appealed for witnesses last night. Contact them on (01388) 603566