TWO men arrested in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of litres of fuel from one of the country’s main underground oil pipes have been bailed.

The men, aged 32 and 34, were apprehended in Salisbury on Sunday night and arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal fuel from Esso.

Both suspects have now been released on police bail until July 10 pending further inquires.

Daily Echo: Firefighters at the scene of the pipeline discovery.

As reported by the Daily Echo, it comes after a major investigation was launched into what has been described as a “sophisticated” plot to siphon diesel - thought to involve more than 30,000 litres.

The Daily Echo understands that the fuel may have been extracted from a pipeline running from Esso Fawley Refinery.

That major pipe runs north by MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire and extends as far as Seisdon in Staffordshire and Birmingham International Airport.