A search has been launched today for a mini-digger worth £27,000 stolen from a Benfleet building site.

Workers, who had been installing a phone mast at the building site in Watlington Road, returned to work this morning to find that the CAT mini-digger was gone.

Kelly Dines, managing director of M and K Contractors, said that it appeared that the caterpillar-tracked digger had been driven around the site before being taken onto the A130 and possibly loaded onto a lorry or trailer.

Police are now trying to trace the three-ton yellow and black mini-digger and hope that the public will come forward with information that could help in the search.

Information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Monday, March 18, 2002