A LORRY was found burned out after a sleeping driver was dragged from his cab by a gang and beaten unconscious.

Unique Harry Potter and England football bedding and textiles were taken by the mob, who stole the lorry and abandoned it near Winwick Quay.

The robbery happened at 2.15am on Tuesday, April 20, when the driver was asleep in a yellow articulated lorry in Leigh.

Around three men dragged him outside and punched and kicked him around the head, leaving him unconscious.

The victim was taken to Wigan Hospital, where he was detained overnight.

The gang sped off with the haul in the trailer. The victim also says that he saw a white seven-and-a-half-tonne HGV driving away.

Police discovered the burned out lorry at 4.20am.

Detectives want to speak to any witnesses who saw a lorry driving through the Lowton area that night, or anybody who has been offered any of the items.

The Renault lorry had an Italian registration reading 342D8006, while the trailer's registration was 34PJ2835.

Anyone with information should contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7255 or Cheshire Police on 01244 350000.