Police are appealing for witnesses after thieves used industrial cutting equipment to break in to premises in an Oxfordshire village.

Police believe both crimes, which took place in Bletchingdon, near Kidlington, last weekend, are linked.

The first took place at the sewage works on Islip Road overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Thieves broke into the yard using oxyacetylene cutting equipment and entered secure cabins within the yard, stealing power tools worth about £3,500.

The second incident was an attempted burglary at a housing development building site in Station Road, which also occurred overnight Saturday to Sunday.

Again using oxyacetylene tools, they entered the sight and broke into one of the unfinished properties, but nothing was stolen.

Pc Mike Harris, of Kidlington police, said: "These thieves took a lot of trouble to break into the sites, which have been targeted previously in recent months.

"Both the entrances to the sewage works and the building site are right on the road and easily visible to passing traffic.

"The thieves may have been there for some time and would have been quite conspicuous when using cutting equipment which produces a lot of sparks.

"If anyone saw anything suspicious in the Bletchingdon area on Saturday night or Sunday morning, it's important they get in touch with us."

Pc Harris can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 08458 505505.

If you don't want to talk to police and don't want to leave your name, you can call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111.