HUNDREDS of bottles of wine worth thousands of pounds have been stolen from outside a warehouse in Langbar.

A pallet of Burgundy containing nearly 600 bottles, with a total value of £6,500, was taken overnight on Tuesday after it was left in a secluded area.

The wine had been delivered by a transport company after being brought over from France. It should have then been taken into the warehouse by local staff but was mistakenly left outside.

Jonathan Cocker, from Ilkley wine merchant Martinez, said: "We are obviously devastated here. The implications of it are massive because half of the bottles were for other wine merchants."

He said the wine, which included 300 bottles of Macon Village, had been placed away from sight down a corridor in amongst units.

"We don't usually leave wine overnight outside the warehouse, we usually put it away. It was a mistake internally," he added.

He appealed to the public to keep an eye out for the wine which will be unusual in this area.

"The wine was imported direct from the vineyard and is therefore unlikely to be sold by anyone else in the area," he said.

"There is a nice case of Burgundy for anyone who gives us information leading to the apprehension of the felons."

He added: "I would ask that if anyone is offered a bottle or a case of this wine anywhere, they either get back to me direct or contact Stephen.Peachman@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk straight away."

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses following the theft.

A spokesman said: "A pallet of wine was delivered to a premises in a rural area near Langbar, in the borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday 8 November 2016. The pallet was last seen at 8pm that day, and was noticed missing the following morning.

"The pallet contained a variety of wine, worth thousands of pounds in total, including nearly 300 bottles of Domaine des Verchères Mâcon Villages 2014.

"A vehicle would have been required to move the wine, and it is believed it was taken late on Tuesday 8 or in the early hours of Wednesday 9 November.

"Police are appealing for anyone with information about the theft, or who is offered wine for sale in suspicious circumstances, to contact them."

Anyone with information is asked to ring 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Stephen Peachman, or Harrogate Police, or email stephen.peachman@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Reference number 12160203847 should be quoted.