THIEVES who stole earth-moving machinery worth £125,000 may come from West Yorkshire.

They loaded two distinctive yellow and black JCB earth-movers on to a low-loader before hitching it up to a lorry cab and driving off from international giants JCB's base in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

The company is offering a £10,000 reward to track down the thieves, who were last seen heading up the M1 towards Yorkshire.

Detectives hope the reward will bring forward information leading to the arrest of the gang, which struck at the company's factory in May.

Det Insp Jed White, of Staffordshire Police's Trent Valley Division, said: "This was a carefully planned theft. There is no doubt the thieves knew exactly what they were looking for.

"The gang drove their own lorry cab to the site and used it to tow the low-loader.

"The thieves were obviously very familiar with driving and handling earth-moving machinery, which would indicate they were stolen for a very specific purpose.

"We hope the offer of a £10,000 reward will help us flush out these thieves and recover the machinery as quickly as possible."

The lorry cab used by the thieves is white, with a large spoiler on top of the cab.

The trailer is a 30ft long Andover SFCL 36 yellow step frame trailer. Its serial number is P3336017.

Its rear number plate is K8 BET and it has a side plate of W302 SF.

The excavators are both new yellow and black 3CX models.

One has the chassis number 961988 and engine number SB40009UO503205.

The second's chassis number is 961987 and the engine number is SA40004U0302505.

* Anyone with information should phone Det Insp White on 01785 234628 or 08453 302010.