Thieves stole a huge haul of guitars and other instruments worth up to £6,000 from a Westcliff music store.

The raiders broke into Allegro Music in London Road after having cut through the alarm system six hours earlier.

They returned in the early hours of Saturday morning and pulled security bars from a rear window to get inside and took eight guitars, a keyboard, amplifier and other equipment.

Sales assistant Dan Snell said: "They cut our telephone line at 7.30pm on Friday. We just were advised that there was a fault on the BT line.

"It turned out that they had cut every wire they could see out the back so there was no connection between our alarm and the central base.

"They came back at about 1.30am - we know that because they tampered with our credit card machine at that time."

He added: "Some of the instruments are very distinctive."

A Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar in a 'sunburst' colour worth up to £1,400 was snatched.

Other guitars included Ozark and Tanglewood metal resonators, a Simon and Patrick 12-string, Les Paul Signature, bright blue Ovation, Crafter GAE 12 and Tanglewood TW45. A Yamaha keyboard, Laney amplifier and Boss guitar effects processor were also stolen.

Anyone who is offered instruments for sale is urged to call 01702 431212.