model trains worth up to £4,000 have been stolen from a North-East sale room.

Detectives said that burglars knew what they were looking for when they broke into Denis Edkins' Auckland Auction Rooms in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, over the weekend.

They knocked through an outside wall at the Kingsway premises some time between 4.15pm on Friday and 9am on Monday, to get to the collection which was waiting to come under the hammer.

The Hornby and Meccano "Double O" gauge clockwork engines and associated rolling stock are said to be worth between £2,000 and £4,000.

Detective Sergeant Dunny McCubbin, of Bishop Auckland CID, said: "The burglars deliberately targeted the models which date back to the 1930s. Staff at the auction rooms are checking, but we believe that nothing else has been taken."

Among the stolen models were ten engines, including an LNER Flying Scotsman and a British Railways tank engine. There were also 12 carriages, two of which were in Golden Arrow Pullman livery

The rolling stock also included nine tanker wagons bearing brands such as Castrol, Shell and Esso.

Det Sgt McCubbin said: "It's likely that they will be offered to collectors and may appear at sale rooms or car boot sales.

"We would appeal to anyone who thinks they may have seen or been offered such items to contact us."

Contact police on (01388) 603566 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.