Big rise in drain cover thefts

Thieves are costing Shropshire taxpayers thousands of pounds due to the repeated thefts of metal drain covers across Shrewsbury.

Eight have been stolen in recent days, including in Bicton Heath and Meole Brace, which will cost about £1,000 to replace.

The latest thefts come after highways officials were forced to fork out more than £5,000 re-placing stolen gully grids, many of them in the Haughmond area near Shrewsbury.

Now police are appealing for anybody who might have witnessed people tampering with the grids in Little Oxon Lane and Shepherds Lane at Bicton Heath and Nobold Lane in Meole Brace on Wednesday, between midnight and 7.30am.

Police spokeswoman Maria Hawkaluk said: "Removing the grids presents a real hazard to motorists and pedestrians and, ultimately, it is the public which ends up paying to replace them.

"Any scrap metal dealer who is offered drain covers for sale should be suspicious and contact police immediately."

Telephone police on 0300 333 3000.