THIEVES stole nearly £60,000 worth of computer monitors from the back of a lorry.

The theft happened sometime between 10am on January 22 and the early hours of yesterday while the trailer was parked in a layby on the A12 just before the Stanway Tollgate turnoff.

The lorry was parked on the Londonbound side of the road.

It arrived at the Harwich port in the early hours of January 22.

The cargo, which weighed around 10 metric tonnes, is believed to have been removed from the nearside of the trailer.

The driver was asleep at the time of the incident. He felt unwell when he awoke and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The lorry is similar to the one pictured.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have used the layby that day and noticed anything suspicious.

Anybody with any information is asked to contact Dc Phil Terry or DS Richard Edwards at Colchester CID on Essex Police 101.

People can also give information to the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via an Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org