WORKERS at a Sutton firm picked up their shovels and shifted tonnes of coal after thieves drove off with their £50,000 JCB digger. The three staff at CPL Distribution, in Station Road, were left with the task of moving seven tonnes of coal on to delivery

WORKERS at a Sutton firm picked up their shovels and shifted tonnes of coal after thieves drove off with their £50,000 JCB digger.

The three staff at CPL Distribution, in Station Road, were left with the task of moving seven tonnes of coal on to delivery lorries to be taken to customers in Cambridge and St Neots after the weekend theft.

Thieves made off with the JCB Loadall between 3.30pm on Friday and 6.30am on Monday.

Despite the keys being locked in the office, they managed to start the machine and drove it three miles along a country track.

Staff believe they used an angle grinder to cut open the gate at the bottom of the track and load the JCB on to a waiting truck.

"We have spoken to people who walk their dogs along the footpath but no-one saw anything," said company supervisor, Garry Ryding.

"The people who stole this obviously knew what they were doing."

INFO: The yellow JCB had the registration number MX55 ZVL and anyone with any information should contact Ely police on 0845 456 4564 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.