Guns and ammunition have been stolen from a house in West Mersea.

Six shotguns, two rifles and 250 rounds of live ammunition were taken from the property in High Street yesterday.

Colchester police fear they are now in the wrong hands and could prove dangerous.

They have issued an urgent appeal to trace the property and have warned anyone coming across it to be careful.

The firearms, owned lawfully by a sporting enthusiast, were all kept in a steel cabinet.

They are thought to be worth thousands of pounds.

Det Sgt Godfrey O'Toole, of Colchester police, said: "All these guns are fully functional and we are particularly concerned because the ammunition for one of them has also been taken.

"The burglar forced open the front door to get inside so we are hoping that someone heard or saw something. We believe that he would have needed a vehicle to get away and would appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious to come forward."

He said that the raiders, who also took a watch engraved with the owner's name, may have targeted the house deliberately.

The firearms included three 12 bore shotguns, including one made by Zabala and another by Webley and Scott, a 16 bore shotgun, a 20 bore shotgun made by Sable, a 9mm shotgun, a .308 Sako rifle and a .303 Lee Enfield rifle. The ammunition was for the Lee Enfield rifle.

Anyone with information should contact Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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