A tractor worth £30,000 has been recovered after it was stolen from a north-east building site.
The McCormick MTX135 was taken from near the Muir Homes development in the Waterside Road area of Peterhead last week.
A power washer was also stolen.
The firm behind offered a reward for its recovery, but announced over the weekend that the thieves had dumped the tractor in woodland near Strichen.
Although it will now be returned to work, Kevin Menzies, managing director of Ground Developments, which owns the vehicle, said it had delayed the housing project.
“We are working hard to ready the site at West Road for new housing development and this theft has caused an unwelcome disruption to our operations,” he said.
Police are continuing to investigate, and Detective Constable Richard Cooper appealed for anyone who may have seen the tractor being taken away to come forward.
He added: “We are lucky to live in an area with relatively low levels of crime, however it’s vital to not become complacent.”
It is thought the tractor and washer were stolen between the afternoon of Saturday, January 21 and the morning of Monday, January 23.
Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers.
