POLICE are hunting thieves who stole more than £3,000 worth of cigarettes from a Hampshire shop.

Thieves forced their way into the WH Smith store in Lymington High Street, in the early hours of yesterday morning, and stole cigarettes worth £3,500.

It comes exactly a week after thieves raided a Co-op store, in Bassett Green Road, Southampton, stealing around £10,000 worth of cigarettes in the early hours of the morning.

Officers are now trawling through CCTV footage from the store of this latest incident, which shows a suspect by the entrance, carrying an umbrella.

He is described as between 5ft 7ins to 5ft 9ins tall, stocky and wearing dark clothing.

Detectives are also keen to speak to two cyclists who were also seen to ride past the store at about 2am, when the offender was by the entrance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Benjamin Collins at Lymington police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.