Police are appealing for information after a lorry driver was kidnapped and held hostage for nine hours before being released in Worcestershire.

The man's ordeal began early yesterday morning on the M74 at Annandale Motorway Services, near Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

The 43-year-old driver from Scotland was checking his vehicle when the offenders grabbed him, covered his face and forced him into the cab of his white Scania lorry, which had a red trailer and "Smith of Whiteinch" written on the sides.

The lorry was driven south on the M6 to junction 27 by Wigan, Lancashire where the man was put into another lorry and driven along the M6 then on to the M5 before leaving at either junction three or four.

The driver was released in woods in Hunnington, near Bromsgrove, where he made his way to a nearby petrol station and called the police at 1.50pm.

Briefed

Police officers from Dumfries will today be briefed by Det Insp Steve Cullen, from Redditch and Bromsgrove police station, before they take over the investigation.

The registration number of the hijacked lorry is N773 MUS and contained a large quantity of Grants, Glenfiddich Special Reserve and Balvandine whisky.

The offenders spoke with Liverpudlian accents.

Anyone who has any information should contact the police on 01905 723000.