Police have released a CCTV image of a car believed to have been used by thieves to steal almost £700 of fuel from petrol stations in Staffordshire.

Officers believe the silver Vauxhall Astra was fitted with extra tanks to enable more diesel to be stolen and that its number plates were regularly switched.

On one occasion, the car was filled up with £112 worth of diesel fuel at a garage near Lichfield before being driven away.

Police hope the CCTV image, which shows the car at a filling station near Lichfield, will help them track down the thieves.

The image shows the car being filled up by a woman – although officers say most of the offences have been committed by a group of men described as Asian.

The total value of the diesel stolen in the Lichfield and Tamworth areas now totals nearly £700.

Pc Martin Ellerton, of Staffordshire Police’s Trent Valley division, said: “We are keen to hear from anyone with information about who is behind this series of thefts which have happened at various times of the day and evening at filling stations across the region.

“If you, or someone you know, is offered cut price diesel fuel, or you hear of people selling fuel at discount prices, then I would urge you to get in touch with police.”

Pc Ellerton said the thefts posed a significant safety hazard with diesel being pumped into makeshift tanks fitted in the boot or on the back seats, which presented the risk of an explosion.

He warned: “There is a real risk of such thefts sparking a serious incident such as a fire or explosion which is why we need to trace the suspects and this silver Vauxhall Astra as quickly as possible.”

Anyone with information about the vehicle, the drivers or the thefts, is asked to contact PC Ellerton at Burton police station, telephone 0300 123 44 55 or, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.