A £1,000 REWARD is being offered to catch thieves who drove away a lorry-load of Californian red wine from a haulier's yard.

The load, worth £33,000, and the lorry were stolen from the premises of C B Morgan Hauliers at Littledown, Shaftesbury, between 5.30pm on Saturday, October 27 and 7am on Monday, October 29.

Shipping company Maersk Sealand is offering the £1,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of the thieves.

The articulated lorry, worth £270,000, was found burnt out and minus its load of 1,218 bottles of Blossom Hill red wine in 24 cases, in a field on the disused airfield at Weston Zoyland by the M5 motorway at Bridgwater, Somerset on Monday, October 29.

Detectives are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the wine offered for sale in unusual locations or for an unusually low price.

Det Sgt Paul Smith, of Ferndown CID, said: "I would appeal to anyone with information to contact us and ask for members of the public to keep an eye out and report any sightings of Blossom Hill red wine for sale in unusual locations, for an unusually low price and perhaps in unusually large quantities.

"All reports will be treated in confidence."

Anyone with information should call Ferndown CID on 01202 486333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.