A BIZARRE joyride in a six-tonne dumper truck in Carnoustie left police hunting the culprit yesterday.

Tayside Police issued a witness appeal after the early-morning incident in which someone broke into a building site, took the truck for a quick spin around the yard, then disappeared.

The police were alerted just before 2am yesterday when several local residents called them to report hearing the noise of a powerful engine being revved in the Dundee Street/ Kinloch Street area, where new flats are being built on the site of the former Carnoustie health centre.

Those whose properties overlook the area spotted the dumper truck being driven within the yard and crashing into scaffolding but, although police officers were quickly on the scene, the culprit had gone.

A Tayside Police spokesman said, “At the moment this is being treated as an attempted theft of the vehicle, a six-tonne red front-loading dumper truck.

“We would appreciate the public’s assistance in tracing the person who was driving it.

“Door-to-door inquiries have taken place in the area but anyone who may have seen anything suspicious, or has any other information regarding this matter, should contact us on 01307 302200.”