FOUR men are being hunted by police today after breaking into a factory at Otley and stealing steel and copper worth nearly £30,000.The burglars were seen making off at speed in a white Ford pickup stolen from the site and a white Ford Transit panel van, which had the index plates obscured with plastic bags.

FOUR men are being hunted by police today after breaking into a factory at Otley and stealing steel and copper worth nearly £30,000.

The burglars were seen making off at speed in a white Ford pickup stolen from the site and a white Ford Transit panel van, which had the index plates obscured with plastic bags.

The thieves are thought to have used a forklift from inside the factory in Church Road, Otley, to move a large sheet of steel, copper pipings and fixings and left it abandoned in the yard.

Police said CCTV showed four men entering the site just before 6pm on Sunday .

The first is described as white, mid to late 20s, slim build, short dark hair and was wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans with faded patches on the front, while the second was white, mid to late 20s, slim build and wearing a blue sports top with white numbers on the front and blue jeans.

The third man was white, mid to late 20s, slim build and was wearing an off white top, light blue jeans and a black beanie hat, and the fourth described as white, mid to late 20s, slim build and was wearing a light grey hooded top with the hood up, light blue jeans and white trainers.

The stolen pickup - registration number is X642 JAJ - was later found abandoned at Barham Pitts near Claydon.

Anyone with information about the incident or the men is asked to call Pc Mark Treeby at Woodbridge police station on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.