POLICE are appealing for help in tracking down those responsible for the theft of a Ford Tipper taken from well secured business premises near Ribblehead Viaduct.

Thieves negotiated a security fence and smashed a safe to get the key for the vehicle, which was on hire to the business.

The vehicle, is white, has a '69' plate and was taken over last weekend, sometime between 4pm on Friday January 5 and 8am on Monday, January 8.

A spokesperson for Craven Police said: "The vehicle had been left locked with the key deposited in key safe within a locked storage container. The business yard is surrounded by a 7ft security fence locked with a padlock. The offenders removed the padlocks and smashed open the key safe before stealing the vehicle."

The vehicle was on hire from Northgate Rental but has no company logo on it.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on the non emergency 101 number and quote incident number 12240004346.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.