Six people have been arrested as part of an operation to stop stolen goods being smuggled out of the country.

Four suspected stolen vehicles and £4,000 cash were seized during the two-day sting at the Port of Dover after a total of 236 vehicles were stopped and searched.

The joint operation was carried out by officers from the Rural Task Force, the Port of Dover police and the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team.

More than £100,000 worth of stolen items were recovered at the port.

This included a mini digger that had been reported stolen following a burglary in Derbyshire in March, which was found concealed behind boxes in a van.

The driver of the van, a 39 year old man from London, was arrested and later bailed.

Officers also arrested three men on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. A black BMW was pulled over after officers suspected the number plate had been tampered with.

Checks were made and it was found to have been reported stolen from Slough in early March.

A blue BMW estate believed to be involved in the theft was also pulled over and the two men inside were also arrested.

All three men aged 27, 38 and 24 from Slough were subsequently bailed.

A suspected stolen horse box was also recovered during the operation when officers noticed that the identifiable markers had been removed. Work is ongoing to re-unite with the owner.

Sergeant Ross Haybourne said: “Operations like these allow us to take a closer look at those sailing from Dover.

“Those criminals who think they can leave the country with their stolen goods have nowhere to hide and we will continue in our fight to bring offenders to justice.”