WEAPON and watch collectors are being warned to beware if they are offered items stolen in a £43,000 burglary at Dunley, near Stourport.

Shotguns, rifles and knives worth £17,300 and watches worth around £24,000 were taken. The haul of watches included a £13,500 Rolex.

A police spokesman said: "The vast majority of the stolen items are highly distinctive and will be comparatively easy to identify if offered on the open market.

"Dealers and collectors need, however, to be extra vigilant in the coming weeks to ensure that they are not buying items stolen from this collection but purported to be from elsewhere."

Police have not revealed the address of the property where the burglary took place between 6pm on Monday, June 5 and 12.30pm on Friday, June 9.

Among the stolen weapons were a £12,000 English Gun Company 12-bore shotgun, bought from Tim Smith, Worcester and a £2,500 Saiko 223 hunting rifle with scope and silencer, bought from Hallcocks, Stourbridge.

Also taken were a £1,500 CZ .22 rifle, a £1,000 Beretta 12-bore automatic shotgun, with five white Olympic rings on the plastic stock and a £300 Mula hunting knife.

A £300 gun cabinet and 80 rounds of Winchester Silver Tip .22 ammunition worth £100 were also stolen.

Watches taken included the £13,500 Rolex 18-carat gold wristwatch, with royal blue face and a £5,000 Omega Le Coutre wristwatch.

A £3,500 Breitling Navitimer stainless steel wristwatch with white/champagne face was stolen, as were a £1,500 Omega Speed-Master wristwatch and a £350 Seiko Kinetic sports watch.

Anyone who has seen any of the stolen items can contact police on 08457 444888, quoting 413S/090606.