THE owner of a vineyard has appealed for raiders to return a Second World War bomb trailer which had been in the family for more than 60 years.

The large wooden trailer, of sentimental value, was kept in the tractor barn at Carter’s Vineyards, in Boxted, before owner Ben Bunting noticed it had been snatched.

It was bought by his father Peter Bunting in about 1945 and was originally used to transport clay pots around the nursery the family ran in North Station Road, Colchester.

Mr Bunting said: “We noticed on Saturday the old thing wasn’t there. “It is not the sort of thing you look at every day.

“It would have disappeared on Thursday or Friday.

“It is not the sort of thing you would put behind a car or even a 4 x 4.

“It is quite bizarre and we are fond of it.”

Mr Bunting said he had no idea how burglars got away with the 15ft-long trailer, as buildings at the vineyards are alarmed.

Mr Bunting described the trailer as low to the ground and said it was usually pulled by a tractor during harvest time when crates of grapes are collected.

Mr Bunting added: “It is more of sentimental value.

“I guess a trailer like that would be worth £1,000 or so. It was a bit of a relic.”

He urged the people of Colchester to keep their eyes peeled for it.

He added: “If the culprits do read this, perhaps they would like to return it.’’ The family bought Carters Vineyards, in Green Lane, about ten years ago.

Anyone with information about the trailer should contact Essex Police on 101.