A reward of more than £5,000 has been offered in an effort to help catch thieves who stole 700,000 cigarettes in a raid on a North-East factory.

The burglars took less than ten minutes to get in and out of the British American Tobacco (BAT) factory in Darlington with their haul, late on Tuesday night.

It is believed the thieves would have needed at least one vehicle for the raid on the firm's Rothmans factory on the town's Lingfield estate, and the company estimated the retail value of the haul at about £140,000.

BAT spokesman Tom Roberts said: "The company is offering a reward in excess of £5,000 for information leading to the recovery of the goods and the arrest and conviction of those responsible."

The raid is though to have happened between 10.25pm and 10.35pm, and was reported to police by security staff in Darlington shortly afterwards.

The plant is one of Europe's biggest cigarette factories and employs more than 500 staff.

Last year, a number of leading manufacturers said the cost of black market cigarettes was running into millions for the industry.

Anybody who has any information about the raid should contact DC Joe Slater at Darlington police station, on (01325) 467681.