DETECTIVES are still hunting for thieves who stole thousands of pounds in staff Christmas bonuses from a Sheppey company.

Intruders took a safe containing the money and important personal documents from Island Scaffolding at Lower Road, Minster, between 1am and 2am last Thursday.

Police say the safe was loaded onto the red Nissan pick-up truck which was also stolen in the burglary.

Documents belonged to Brian Herron, the firm’s managing director, and his family. They included passports, birth certificates and documents about Mr Herron’s family history. The pick-up truck was found burnt out at Crockham Road, Herne Hill, near Faversham, on Sunday morning.

Mr Herron, who employs about a dozen staff, did not want to reveal the exact amount of cash kept in the safe. But he added: “I had Christmas bonuses for our staff. Now it’s gone, but we will struggle through and survive.”