AN Abingdon company is offering a reward of up to £50,000 for help in finding 500 tonnes of plastic after it was stolen from a warehouse.

Biesterfeld Petroplas, based in Milton Park, said the polyethylene was packed in 25kg bags and was stolen between February 22 and 23 from a third-party contractor’s warehouse in the North West of England.

The material, which is produced by Marlex, is traceable via batch numbers. Its resin is used to manufacture bottles, film, pipe and sheet.

A company spokesman said: “Biesterfeld Petroplas is the only authorised distributor for this material in Great Britain. Anyone offered a Marlex product from an unauthorised source, or who has knowledge about the theft should report the matter to the police.”

Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101.