TYRES worth £16,000 were stolen from the back of a lorry near Selby while the driver slept in the cab.

Police have launched an investigation after the Pirelli tyres were stolen in a Kirk Smeaton lay-by.

The theft was discovered by police officers during a routine patrol at about 1.45am on Tuesday, when they saw a Slovakian lorry parked in a lay-by on the A1 southbound at the junction with Middlefield Lane.

A large section of curtain had been cut out of the side of the vehicle and the driver confirmed that between 85 and 100 Pirelli tyres worth more than £16,000 had been stolen.

Two different sizes of tyre, worth £200 to £400 each, were taken, including 17-inch ones which are commonly used on saloon cars such as Volkswagen Passats and Skoda Octavias, and 19-inch ones used on Range Rovers and other 4x4 vehicles.

Anyone who has been offered tyres for sale, should phone PC David Clark on 0845 6060247.