MEN were seen stashing items into duffle bags during a theft at a New Forest recycling centre.

A CCTV operator was alerted to two people wandering the Efford waste recycling centre in Pennington at approximately 10.25pm on Sunday night.

The pair had gained access via a fence at the rear of the Milford Road site.

It is alleged that one man was seen to climb into an open top container – labelled ‘iron and steel’ - and begin passing items to the other man who was then seen to put items into a number of duffle bags.

They were then seen to flee the area on foot via a fence next to the main gate and towards Milford Road.

Officers were deployed to the scene and carried out a number of extensive area searches.

They were able to locate two men matching the descriptions provided by the CCTV operator at the junction of Milford Road and the entrance to the waste site.

They were both detained for the purposes of a search.

A 34-year-old man and a 36-year-old man, both from New Milton, were arrested on suspicion of burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal.

Both remain in custody at this time.