BURGLARS are believed to have raided a home after climbing a heap of logs that had been left beside a garden fence.

Householders say the discarded timber – the result of a tree-pruning operation – enabled the intruders to scale the 6ft fence and enter an outbuilding in the victim’s garden.

It happened after several branches were sawn off a tree on public land behind a house in Dilly Lane, Barton on Sea.

New Forest District Council has received a complaint alleging that wood left piled up helped the burglars to get over the fence.

Last night the council confirmed it was carrying out tree cutting in the area but said there was “no indication” the work was connected to the burglary.

Three other properties further down the street were targeted on the same night.

One of the victims said she and her husband lost tools, a bicycle and the contents of their freezer, which had only just been re-stocked.

She added: “Luckily they didn’t do any damage, other than the locks they broke.

“I’m told another house in the street was targeted by burglars after a tree was pruned and all the branches were left behind. They should have taken them away.”

Another woman said her husband took some of the logs after workmen told him "they’ve got to be removed – there have been some burglaries.”

A police spokesman said property was stolen from a garage, a garden shed and a workshop. Another garage was entered but nothing was taken. The intruders struck in the early hours of last Friday.

In each case they approached their victims’ homes by walking along a dimly-lit footpath between the properties and a stream known as Becton Bunny.

Police have visited the area and distributed crime prevention leaflets to residents, many of whom are elderly.

A council spokesman said: “We are aware there were a number of shed burglaries in the Barton area.

"New Forest Community Safety Partnership is continuing to work together to reduce the likelihood of further occurrences as well as advising all residents on steps that they can take to safeguard their garden property."

“As this is an ongoing police investigation we will make no further comment at this time.”