POLICE are crossing counties to track down a pair of thieves who stole a string of vehicles before driving through a fence and escaping into the fog.

The criminals targeted south Tynedale last weekend, operating between 6pm on Friday and 7am the next day.

During that time, a quad bike was taken from Melkridge and thieves also tried to steal another at around 11pm on the Friday.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, a green Peugeot Partner van was taken in Bardon Mill.

The van, stolen between 3am and 3.30am, was later recovered in Brampton.

Police believe two male thieves stole the van – and the quad from Melkridge, which they then left in a field.

They then travelled to Brampton where they stole a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up truck.

The green truck, with the registration N176 WHH, was then used to travel back to Melkridge to load up the quad left there earlier.

Police witnessed the thieves returning to load up the stolen quad bike. However the thieves then escaped in the fog, crashing through a fence before driving towards Cumbria.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101.