A COUPLE are appealing for help after £20,000-worth of equipment was stolen from a locked farm shed.

Digby and Jill Machin, who run Gate Helmsley Strawberries, near York, discovered the theft at the weekend, and are desperate for anyone who may have seen something suspicious to contact the police.

A white Mercedes Sprinter van, two quad bikes, a seven-foot trailer and several other smaller pieces of equipment were taken in the raid, which police say was well-planned and targeted.

Mrs Machin, who runs the business with her husband and son, Matthew, said: "The shed is in the middle of a field, but near the A166 - someone must have seen the alarm with blue lights flashing.

"It's quite sophisticated and is deafening when it's going off. The thieves have broken it into pieces to silence it."

Mrs Machin said the thieves forced their way into the locked shed and must have spent some time loading the goods into the van and on to the trailer.

"To tell the truth I think we are all just in shock, my husband has taken it very badly.

"There are things like insurance, but it is such a lot of things for people to take.

"You just don't know how long it will take to sort things out," she said.

Sgt Cliff Edens, of Malton Police, urged anyone with information to contact the Ryedale Witness Line, on 01723 509662.

"The method of entering shows that these people were organised and targeted the place," he said.

"There must have been a time when they were eyeing it up, casing the joint.

"If anyone saw anything suspicious or suspicious vehicles before the theft, they should get in touch."

Updated: 11:04 Thursday, December 12, 2002