Thieves made off with an unmarked police car after a raid at a station in South Lanarkshire.

Officers were alerted to the break-in at Blantyre Police Station after an alarm went off at around 3.50am on Thursday.

When they arrived they found the raiders had stolen a number of police items which had been secured in the station.

They also left with an unmarked Ford Focus but the car was discovered nearby.

A major probe is now under way and police are hunting those behind the raid.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "Around 3.50am on Thursday, officers attended an alarm call at Blantyre Police Station, Victoria Street, Blantyre, and on arrival found that the station had been broken into.

"A number of items which were secured within the building were stolen. An unmarked Ford Focus police car was taken but was recovered by officers soon after in nearby Broompark Avenue.

"Inquiries into the incident are ongoing and officers are carrying out CCTV and door-to-door enquiries."