A SMALL business is today facing the possibility of closure after its 23-tonne delivery lorry with a crane attached was stolen.It is believed the six-wheel HGV lorry, which is worth between £15,000 and £20,000, was stolen some time between 11.

A SMALL business is today facing the possibility of closure after its 23-tonne delivery lorry with a crane attached was stolen.

It is believed the six-wheel HGV lorry, which is worth between £15,000 and £20,000, was stolen some time between 11.30pm on Saturday and 12.20am on Sunday .

David Mayhew, manager of Spreaders, a supplier to Suffolk's plastering and dry lining industry, based on the Farthing Road Industrial Estate, claimed the theft has already lost them business.

He said: “This will caused us a lot of problems. We have already lost part of a big order because we could not fulfil it. This is a large outlay for a small business and we only started 18 months ago. It is the sort of thing that could cripple a small business and could spell the end for us.”

Around six weeks ago there was an attempted theft on the same vehicle but when this failed the culprits stole diesel from the tank instead.

Following this incident the vehicle was moved to a more secure place under a CCTV camera. However on the night of the theft, the cameras were not working.

Mr Mayhew added: “The vehicle is very valuable because it was the only one we had of that size and it was our only form of offloading the bulk material we sell due to the crane on the back.

“I think it has been stolen for the crane more than anything else. I don't know if we'll get it back-you can only hope”

On the back of the vehicle, which has the registration number P3 NXN, were bulk aggregate bags with the name Spreaders printed on them, along with the company phone number (01473 745041).

The crane on the back is blue and made by Atlas.

If anyone has any information about the theft, they should call Pc Lee Andrews-Pearce at Capel St Mary station 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

n Have you been the victim of a crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.