Thieves stole £100,000 of copper cable from a heavy goods lorry in Dartford after abducting its driver.

North Kent Police said five huge reels of cabling were taken when the brazen thieves pounced on the lorry and its driver in Sandpit Road.

They drove the lorry and its load through the Dartford Crossing and into Essex, while others took the driver from his cab and drove him to a location 10 miles away before setting him free uninjured.

Police later found the cab burnt out in a rural area near Brentwood, Essex. The trailer and its lucrative load are still missing.

The abduction and theft happened at about 11.15pm on Tuesday, September 30, but police have only just released details of the crime.

Detective Sergeant Cameron Riley is investigating the robbery. He said: "The reels of copper cable were clearly marked with the name of the company and are large and heavy to manoeuvre. It is possible someone may have seen them being unloaded.

"I would urge anyone who saw a silver coloured saloon car or people acting suspiciously in the Sandpit Road area shortly before the lorry and its driver were targeted to get in touch."

• If you have information which may help police with their inquiries, call Det Sgt Riley at North Kent Police Station on 01474 366091, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.