DETECTIVES are appealing for information after property worth more than £100,000 and weighing nearly three tonnes was stolen from a bearings company.

Thieves entered the RHP Bearings building at Davyfield Road, Darwen sometime between last Saturday and Monday and made off with a number of aluminium patterns.

The unique patterns, used to make moulds for the manufacture of ball bearings, are thought to weigh nearly three tonnes.

Police believe the offenders may try to sell them on as scrap metal as they cannot be used at any other foundry.

Det Con Paul Ryan, of Darwen CID, is investigating the theft. He said: "This is very unusual property which is of no use to anybody other than RHP Bearings.

"Metal and scrap dealers in Lancashire have already been alerted to this theft and we are now appealing to the wider community to come forward if they have any information that would help the investigation."

There is only one other company in the country which produces a similar product and the loss of the patterns will have serious commercial implications for the company.

David Smith, Human Resources Director, for RHP, said: "We are trying to re-organise production plans so that work isn't affected in any way, but it is important that we get them back." The company believes the commercial value of the patterns are worth a substantial amount to them although they would only be worth as little as £3,000 in scrap value.

Mr Smith added: "We are currently trying to examine the exact value of the patterns, but we know that they are worth more than £100,000.

"There were people working overtime in another part of the building, but the part of the building where the patterns were stolen from was closed. We do not think that it was anybody who works for us because there isn't any evidence to make us suspicious."

The pattern mouldings are described as being 24 inch by 18 inch in size and have the letters RHP stamped on them.

The company has offered a substantial reward for any information about the theft.

If anybody has any information they should contact Darwen Police station on 01254 701777.