A TRUCK was stolen over night from a Newport business and was taken off the Island.

The truck, belonging to Riverway Salvage, was taken in the early hours of this morning (Friday) and Red Funnel confirmed to Riverway that the vehicle was taken off the Island on the 1.30am car ferry from East Cowes.

Riverway Salvage, run by father and son team, Eric and Gary Matthews, said it had looked at its own CCTV, which showed three people look around the truck just after 12.30am, go away and then come back, break into the vehicle and hotwire it.

Gary's wife Sarah Jeanette Matthews, said: "This is my husband and father-in-law's business. Without this, we can’t pay the bills.

"It’s going to cripple the business. With a 16 month old, I only work two days a week and then I am a stay-at-home mum. We couldn't survive on my wages.

"It’s going to be a very tight month with money. My husband and father-in-law need that truck to do their job and get paid."

The truck was taken from Parkhurst Road, at the top of Hunnyhill.

Anyone with information can contact Riverway Salvage on 825805 or the police on 101, quoting 44190213217.

A police spokesperson said: "We received a report at 3.28am on June 21 relating to the theft of a white Ford Transit, stolen from Parkhurst Road. Enquiries are ongoing."