Railway detonators containing small explosives have been stolen from a van outside Oxford railway station.

About 14 were taken from a railway worker's van parked in the station car park at about 9pm on Monday.

The disc-shaped detonators are encased in red plastic tubes with the word 'explosive' written on the side. They are designed to explode on impact with a train to warn workers further up the track. They were inside a green canvas zip-up bag stolen from the yellow Amey Rail transit van.

Pc Scott Perkin, of British Transport Police, said: "We are concerned that the thieves do not realise they are handling explosives that could cause considerable injury if badly handled. If they get in the hands of children it could be very dangerous."

A mobile phone, tools, maps and a leather wallet containing £40 cash were stolen with the bag.

Anyone who saw anything, or knows where the explosives are, should call Oxford police on: 0800 405040, quoting IMF26729/05/01.