TWO men are being hunted by police after a burglary in which two vehicles were stolen.

Officers were called to a property near Consett, County Durham just before 2.35pm on Tuesday afternoon.

A white Ford Transit van and a Ford Ranger 4x4 pick-up had been stolen during a burglary.

About 30 minutes later, both vehicles were traced to the Cockfield area, near Bishop Auckland and a police operation took place in which the Ford Transit was recovered.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary told The Northern Echo: “During the operation, two men were spotted acting suspiciously nearby and a search, which included the police helicopter, was carried out. However, both men as well as the 4x4 vehicle remain outstanding at this time.”

The men were both aged approximately 18 to 20 years old. One was wearing a khaki hoodie and light jeans, and the other was wearing a dark grey top and dark trousers.

The police spokesman added: “This remains an active inquiry and our investigations are continuing.”

People in the area reported a large police presence during the incident.