A GWENT town has been hit by a new wave of burglaries.

Blaenavon was blitzed by a spate of incidents last week, and the crime wave follows four unsolved night-time burglaries in the space of a fortnight in February.

At the weekend, a dumper truck was used by thieves to ram-raid portable offices at a unit on the Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate.

The burglars then broke into lockers and made off with power tools.

Resident Colin Hewitt, 65, from Llanover Road, said Blaenavon Constitutional Club in James Street had been burgled in the early hours of Tuesday, and five crates of alcopops and a tray of soft drinks were stolen.

He said: "This isn't the first time we've been targeted at the club because there was an attempt to break in here about six weeks ago."

Last week, thieves entered an unlocked house in Hillside Avenue and cash and two mobile phones were stolen.

Last Tuesday, a property in Lower Waun Street was broken into and household items were stolen.

In early February, a damaged Rover 200 was recovered by police after it was stolen from outside a house in Lower Hill Street, along with its keys, cash and credit cards.

Further incidents took place at two properties in Gladstone Terrace, in which cash, credit cards and mobile phones were stolen.

Blaenavon councillor Lynne Howells said: "There is a feeling of unease in the town."

Detective Sergeant Jim Walker, from Pontypool CID, said: "No arrests have been made but we do believe that local people are responsible."

PC Mal John, from Blaenavon, said the recent good weather had led to an increase in crime but urged people to be vigilant.

"I would like to ask people to make sure that their property is secure both in the day and at night and to report any suspicious behaviour."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blaenavon police station on 01495 790452.