POLICE are hunting ‘professional thieves’ who stole a £35,000 tractor from a farm.

Officers said the thieves cut a padlock on a gate before breaking into a barn and driving off with the green 2009 John Deere 6330 Loader.

The incident happened at a farm in Laneshaw Bridge on Saturday evening.

No arrests have been made at this stage.

Police are appealing for witnesses and have urged anyone who is offered the tractor or its parts to contact them immediately.

They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw a Transit-type van driven suspiciously in the area.

PC Nigel Keates said: “I don’t believe this crime has been committed by an opportunistic thief. I believe it is a targeted theft which has been done by a professional.

“When you’re looking at a vehicle of this value, you’re talking a made-to-order theft.

“It would be very difficult to sell it in the local area because farmers are quite close-knit and they will all be aware of this vehicle.

“A lot of the time these vehicles are transported out of the country or stripped down for parts.

“This theft will effect the farmer massively. He has got animals to feed. He needs the tractor to do the job. It’s the animals that are going to suffer.”

PC Keates, who said the tractor has very low hours and new tyres, added: “I would certainly advise that people think about fitting trackers or data tags.

“I would also encourage anyone with information about this theft or who is offered the vehicle or its parts to contact us.

“This type of crime is disgusting and hits right at the heart of the farming community.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Keates by calling 101 and quoting log reference EG1707189.

Alternatively, email 1443@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.