TWO bags of mail have been snatched from a postman's bicycle in Wootton Bassett.

About 700 first and second class letters were stolen from a grey mail sack and a red mail pouch in the incident in Marlborough Road at about 7.30am yesterday.

The letters were destined for homes in Templars Firs, Dunnington Road and Glenville Road.

PC Julie Mason, of Wootton Bassett police, said: "Because of the time of day when this offence was committed there is a strong likelihood someone would have seen activity near the postman's bicycle."

Sergeant Andy Fortune said: "This is the first mailbag theft we've had in Wootton Bassett for a while, but I know there have been similar incidents in Swindon and Devizes.

"They may be connected, but we don't know.

"We know people steal post in order to get hold of bank cards and credit cards, so there may be a link to identity theft.

"We guess the bags will have been disposed of somehow. If people find mail or mailbags they should contact us."

A Post Office spokeswoman said: "Not everybody would have been receiving mail on that day, but anyone who has concerns should telephone our customer services centre on 08457 740 740, giving their address, post code and details of what they were expecting.

"We are working with the police and will do everything we can to recover the post and get it to its intended destination."

Wiltshire has seen a spate of mail thefts in recent weeks.

There have been two thefts on successive Saturday mornings this month in Devizes.

In February police in Swindon warned that mailbags were being stolen by identity thieves hoping to glean banking details and personal information.

Anyone with information can contact WPC Mason on 01793 852213.