A massive haul of clothes worth £10,000 which were stolen from across Shrewsbury have been recovered by police.

The clothing was stolen from a number of shops in the town by two Liverpool men who have been charged and jailed for the thefts.

About £3,000 worth of clothes were recovered from a car by police while a further 42 bags of stolen clothing worth £7,000 were found at the men’s homes on Merseyside.

The clothes were stolen from a number of stores in Shrewsbury, including Marks & Spencer and other high street stores.

Today officers said the clothing which had been recovered had been taken to the town centre police station in Shrewsbury so that it could be returned to the stores.

Two men from Liverpool were sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court for the thefts in February.

Jamie Gordon, 32, was jailed for eight months after admitting five charges of theft while he was also given one month in prison for breaching a conditional discharge, which he had also admitted.

Kevin O’Loughlin, 44, admitted four charges of theft and possessing an article used in conjunction with theft. He was jailed for eight months.

Constables Kevin Roberts and Lee Saunders have received commendations for their “tenacity and determination” in successfully investigating the case.

They have been to Merseyside to bring the clothing back to Shrewsbury to return a number of stores in the town.

Constable Roberts said: “This was a serious crime involving a huge amount of clothing taken from shops in Shrewsbury and other towns.”

Police said the incidents came to light when a man was arrested by Constable Roberts at Marks & Spencer in the town on December 7 for the theft of two pairs of trousers. It was suspected he was operating with an accomplice who had a vehicle parked at a hotel car park in the town, police said.

Constable Saunders was directed to the car and arrested the accomplice on his return to the vehicle following a short pursuit. Stolen goods worth £3,000 were found in the vehicle.

A search of the men’s homes then took place.

By John Kirk