A DIGGER and a trailer which commonly transports heavyweight vehicles around were stolen on the same night.

The £16,000 digger which was being used to dig trenches for Wessex Water was stolen from Belcombe Road in Bradford on Avon sometime overnight between 5pm on Monday, November 28 and 7am this morning (Tuesday).

During the same time period, a 3.5 tonne Ifor Williams trailer with gardening equipment on it worth a total of around £5,000 was stolen from Westmead Crescent in Trowbridge.

Wayne Johnson, a Wessex Water supervisor, found that the digger was missing when he arrived on site this morning.

He said: “We’ve been laying new waterworks and use the excavator to dig up trenches in the ground.

“The digger was parked and made secure but that didn’t stop someone from taking it.

“I have no idea how it was taken away but it is strange that a trailer was taken on the same night, especially as it’s a trailer which is used to transport equipment such as this.

"It seems like whoever stole it knew what they were doing."

Police believe the two thefts might be linked and are currently investigating.