Driver sleeps through brandy raid

Thieves made off with £200,000 worth of French brandy from a parked lorry as the driver was sleeping in his cab.

Raiders used cutting gear to get into the lorry early on Tuesday, as it was parked for the night on the A66 near Barnard Castle in County Durham.

They got away with 800 cases of Remy Martin brandy and champagne from the lorry that was en-route to Scotland.

Police believe it took the thieves three hours to put the eight pallets of liquor onto an escape vehicle.

The lorry was travelling from Teesport.

A spokesman for Durham Police said they have yet to interview the driver of the lorry, who continued with his journey after discovering the theft.

He said passing motorists would have seen the raid and appealed for witnesses.