THIEVES are targeting farms to help themselves to free fuel in a spate of thefts across west Dorset.

Inspector Les Fry, of Dorchester Police, said thieves had struck at farm buildings taking diesel and heating oil.

He said: "We've had a real spate of these thefts.

"Thieves are picking out isolated buildings and taking diesel - both the red agricultural type and standard diesel or derv.

"There have also been thefts of central heating oil and incidents where big stainless steel water tanks have been stolen."

He added: "Farmers need to increase security on their tanks by fitting padlocks or other appropriate devices to deter offenders. There have been thefts where a lock was fitted but not in use."

And he warned that it was not just farm buildings being hit by thieves.

"A central heating oil tank was raided at the village hall at Frampton.

"The oil was siphoned off into containers that fortunately were still there - the thieves obviously intended to collect them later.

"Fuel in any isolated or rural area needs to be secured and checked."

Insp Fry said the latest spate thefts included 3,000 litres of red diesel taken from a tank at a farm near Crossways.

Thefts had also been reported at Abbotsbury where 600 litres of road diesel were taken, at West Knighton and Kingston Maurward.

Insp Fry said: "The high price of these fuels means offenders will help themselves if they can.

"It's a case of increasing security on tanks."

Rupert Rees, secretary for the National Farmers' Union's Dorchester group, said: "It's a problem for farmers.

"We hope they will be more vigilant and increase security but it seems that as they do that, people get more clever at breaking in.

"And these are working farms so it's difficult to lock everything up like Fort Knox. Red diesel is only for agricultural use so anyone caught using it on the road would be prosecuted."