THIEVES escaped with a lorry load of lightbulbs after they broke their way out of a compound.

The intruders are thought to have scaled a chain link fence to get into the Gatherley Road industrial estate, in Brompton-on-Swale, near the A1 in North Yorkshire.

They checked the trailers to find out what was inside them before they forced the doors of a blue, G-registered Volvo SL10 tractor unit and attached it to a Kogel trailer.

They then drove through the security fence and across wasteland before they joined the road to make their escape.

The value of the trailer load of energy-saving, 20-watt Osram lightbulbs is estimated at £142,000.

Made in Germany and en-route from a depot in France, they were packed in green and white boxes.

Anyone who is offered similar goods in suspicious circumstances is asked to contact police on (01609) 783131.

Detectives want to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the Gatherley Road area of Brompton-on-Swale in the early hours of Sunday.

Contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.