POSTMAN Pat is being hunted in connection with a burglary.Thieves raided play centre Totally Brilliant and the children's TV character is now missing – leaving staff fearing an inside job.

POSTMAN Pat is being hunted in connection with a burglary.

Thieves raided play centre Totally Brilliant and the children's TV character is now missing – leaving staff fearing an inside job.

Owner Jim McCann said: "There was only one person missing – Postman Pat.

"If we can find Postman Pat then we'll find out who carried out the raid."

The three-foot statue of the bespectacled mailman used to stand watch on children racing round the centre's play area.

But he disappeared after thieves broke in, escaping with a small amount of cash and scattering office and kitchen equipment all over the floor.

The thieves also attempted to steal new disco equipment, but left most of it behind. Only a few CDs were lost.

Mr McCann was left stunned by the raid and shocked by the thieves antics.

He said: "It just doesn't make sense, I can't understand it at all. I arrived to find stuff scattered all over the office and then discovered the back doors were open."

The raiders had attempted to ram-raid gates leading to the Whitehouse Road site overnight on Wednesday.

After failing to break through the robust gates, they removed the padlock before finally resorting to the labourious task of peeling back the wire mesh.

Mr McCann said he was relieved nothing much had been stolen in the burglary.

And he revealed he would have considered packing up shop if the thieves had targeted the centre's new state-of-the-art nursery.

He said: "I think I would have just packed it all in if they'd wrecked this place because there's an awful lot of hard work gone into it."

But the owner was still able to see the funny side. He reserved some criticism for another member of staff, aside from suspect Postman Pat.

He said: "We're not too impressed with our six-foot bear either – he didn't turn out to be much of a security guard."

A police spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that a business premises in Whitehouse Road was broken into between 9pm on Wednesday and 8.45am on Thursday ."

Anyone with any information about this crime should contact Pc Simon Hughes at Ipswich police on 01473 613500 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.