Two suspected raiders were due in court over a Wirral burglary spate in the early hours of Friday.

Two men were charged last night by police investigating three business break-ins in Rock Ferry.

Steven Calvert, 23, of Anfield Road, Anfield and Jason Allen, 25, Cassia Close, Walton, were arrested and later charged with committing three commercial burglaries.

They were remanded in custody and were set to appear before Wirral magistrates' court  this morning. Officers had been called to reports of a burglary at Burnells newsagents in Bedford Road at 2.30am.

A silver Ford Focus left the scene upon the police's arrival and was found abandoned having crashed in Green Lane in Tranmere a short time later. 

Officers searched the surrounding area and arrested two men in a car park behind the court building. 

A search of the Focus led to a large number of cigarettes being found inside the car which had been reported missing by the shop owner. 
The offenders are believed to have forced open the metal shutters at the front of the shop and broken the glass window behind it. 

Detective Chief Inspector Tracy Hayes from Wirral CID, said: "Thanks to a prompt call from the shop owner, who had been woken by the store's security alarm, patrols were deployed very quickly to the scene and the suspects were located and arrested.

"What is particulary pleasing is that a large amount of cigarettes, which we believe were stolen in this burglary were recovered at the scene."