POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an apparent theft from a council site.

On Thursday, at about 7.40am, a quantity of road signs and a skip were taken from the Durham County Council depot at Barford corner, on the A68, near Barnard Castle.

A dull yellow lorry was seen leaving the site, carrying the skip upside down on its back.

PC Victoria Barnett said a second lorry had pulled up on the roadside near the depot. It is not thought to be connected, but it caused a line of traffic as it sat with its hazard warning lights on.

She said: "The skip was upside down which is quite unusual and we're hoping somebody in the line of traffic will remember seeing it."

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Barnett on 0845 60 60 365.