Theft of old postboxes

Villagers on the Shropshire/Herefordshire border are being urged to keep a close eye on their postboxes after a series of thefts.

Since the start of April, there have been a number of thefts of red Royal Mail postboxes from villages including Burford near Tenbury Wells.

The boxes are the cast iron types attached to telegraph poles and other posts and are valued at about £60 each. Some are very old and bear the VR mark from Queen Victoria's reign.

Police are unsure whether they are being stolen for their scrap value or for the antique market.