Burglars have stolen grounds maintenance machinery worth more than £40,000 from Burford Priory.

They got into the priory through a gate off Sheep Street between 10pm on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday and took away two ride-on mowers, a chipping machine, five red-and-yellow quad bikes, an orange Kubota mini-digger and tools and clothes.

Pc Jacqueline Johnson said: “This is high-value machinery and we're asking people to keep an eye out for it.

“We're also appealing for any witnesses who saw people acting suspiciously around the gate in Sheep Street.

"This is an isolated area, but there would have been a lot of activity there while the thieves moved all the equipment and machinery.”

Anyone with information should call Pc Johnson on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.