A DOG walker stumbled across thousands of pounds worth of unopened cigarette cartons sprawled in undergrowth by the side of the road today.

Paul Way pulled into a lay-by on the A35, close to its exit to Bloxworth in Purbeck, at around 9am to take his pet Teddy for a morning stroll.

After getting out of the car he came across the unopened cartons of what appeared to be Regal King Size cigarettes lying by the side of the road.

Surprised by the find, Mr Way took pictures and informed the authorities of the discovery.

“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he said. “They may be fakes and certainly if they were legit why would they be dumped like this?

“They were scattered across an area of about 10 square metres and there must have been thousands of cigarettes there.

“I thought I had best call the police – it’s not the sort of thing you expect to find.”

Mr Way estimated that that the cartons contained in excess of 20,000 cigarettes. A packet of 20 king-size Regal cigarettes cost more than £9 per packet to buy at a supermarket.

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed 34,000 cigarettes were found.

The haul was collected by officers and will be referred to HM Revenue and Customs for further investigation.

Sergeant Paul James, of Purbeck police, said: “I would like to speak to anyone who may have information regarding where the cigarettes may have come from.

“Anyone who may have found other packets in unusual circumstances should hand them to police.

“Further tests are required to determine the contents of the cigarettes so I would also urge anyone who may have been offered packets of cigarettes cheaply to report this to police as their consumption may be harmful.”

No arrests have been made.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 7:80. Alternatively, call the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.

The discovery comes less than a month after equipment that can used for growing cannabis was found by the A338 Spur Road.

The equipment, which was dumped in a ditch close to Ashley Heath, included bags of compost, heat lamps and plastic tubs used for storing strong chemicals.