A LORRY driver was kidnapped by four masked thugs who stole his lorry and dumped him 70 miles away.

Police are now investigating possible links with an almost identical incident earlier this year when the driver was also abducted in Derbyshire and abandoned in Warrington.

In the latest incident, at about 4am yesterday this morning (Wednesday), the driver was resting in a lorry park at the northbound Tibshelf services, on the M1, between junctions 28 and 29, when the gang struck.

The man went to investigate noises coming from the back of his vehicle and was surrounded by the group, who all spoke with Liverpudlian accents.

Police said he was threatened, bundled back into the cab and driven to an unknown location, where he was transferred to a white box van.

The driver, who was eventually dumped in the Woolston area of Warrington at about 10am, was shaken but unhurt, although his cargo of high-value footwear was stolen.

The lorry was found later in the day, burned out in Formby, Merseyside.

Detective Inspector Glyn Jones, of Derbyshire police, said: "One of the first things we want to try to do is trace anyone who was at Tibshelf during the early hours of this morning.

"We would ask other motorists or lorry drivers who had stopped off; if you think you saw these four men or saw anyone acting suspiciously around the lorry park, contact us immediately.

"Also, we would ask anyone who may have seen this lorry travelling on the M1, M6 or possibly M62 or locally in the Warrington or Merseyside areas to let us know.

"We are talking to our counterparts in Cheshire and Merseyside about the incident and will be speaking to the driver further in due course."

The lorry involved in yesterday's incident belonged to Leighton Buzzard firm Nationwide Distribution.

It had a Leyland Daf cab and a blue curtain-sided trailer with the company's logo written on it.

Police say they are uncertain at this stage of the route taken by the gang or why the journey took so long.

But the driver's ordeal echoes that of a fellow haulier, who was kidnapped and bundled into the boot of a car near Alfreton in February.

On that occasion, a group of four men with Liverpudlian accents stole the cargo of high-value tyres and dumped the driver in Warrington.

Chrys Rampley, security manager with the Road Haulage Association, said lorry hijackings were on the increase.

She said there were 86 reports in the UK, between April 1, 2005, and March 31, this year, and she expected the number to be higher in 2006-07.

She said: "However much you protect yourself, you're vulnerable.

"Our advice to drivers would be not to get out of the cab and dial 999. Also, try to park with other vehicles rather than somewhere isolated."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Derbyshire police on 0845 123 33 33 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.