ARMED police swooped on a village after a rifle was stolen from a vehicle.

Officers raced to East Morton when the alarm was raised at about 4.30pm yesterday.

The theft occurred while a gamekeeper was investigating quad bikes being ridden on land in the area.

Police say the man came across the suspects in Ilkley Road, at West Morton, and the rifle – which was not believed to be loaded – was taken while he was distracted.

"The suspects then drove off," said a police spokesman.

"We later located and recovered the rifle."