THIEVES stole valuable collections of china, electrical goods and jewellery from a house near Willington in an overnight raid.

The homeowners were still counting the cost of the theft at Dovedale, Sunnybrow, yesterday but police say the final total will be more than £5,000.

Included in the haul were Coalport porcelain ornaments, Ainsley Wild Tudor porcelain, three television sets, a video recorder, a hi-fi, a Playstation and games, compact discs, and a large amount of jewellery.

Detectives at Crook are appealing for help from anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area or noticed a strange vehicle between 6pm on Tuesday and 7.30am yesterday to contact (01388) 762011