Police are investigating the theft of £85,000 worth of equipment from a gardening and tree surgery business.

Intruders used bolt cutters to remove padlocks from gates at the Armadillo Group in Telham Lane, Battle.

They broke into a shipping container on the site which was used to store the missing items.

Stolen property includes an Ifor Williams double-axle trailer, a green Quadtech 160 wood chipper, a blue Wallenstein 630EU wood splitter, a Polaris 900 diesel all-terrain vehicle. five Husqvarna chain saws and various other power tools and equipment.

PC Steve Meppem, of the Hastings and Rother neighbourhood response team, said: "Given the size of some items and the number stolen, it is highly likely that the offenders used vehicles of their own to carry out this theft.

"Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, who is offered such items for sale in unusual circumstances or who has any other information which may help our investigation is asked to get in touch without delay."

The break-in happened some time between Friday March 31 and Wednesday April 5.

Anyone with information can email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting serial 499 of 05/04.