A SPATE of thefts of heavy iron grids is posing a danger to road users, warns Cheshire County Council.
In just five days 51 grid covers have disappeared over-night from roads across the county, including Elton.
After taking 20 from there, thieves returned to Cryers Lane in Elton on Saturday to steal the four remaining covers.
Trading standards officers have called on the area's scrap metal dealers to help find the offenders.
Andrew Rees, head of the investigations team, is joining forces with county police officers in an effort to find the thieves.
He said: 'Residents should be on the lookout for anyone acting suspiciously and note vehicle registration numbers.
'I also appeal to scrap deal-ers to support us as well by logging the details of those bringing grids to them.'
County council highways inspector Bryn Jackson said: 'The thieves have to be using a goods vehicle to remove such heavy objects. Over the last six months the grids have been disappearing at the rate of up to 10-12 a week but last week around 30 were stolen in two days alone.
'The great issue is highways safety. There is particular concern for road users, especially cyclists who, following the kerb line, might not see the danger at night. Some thefts have been near to schools and pose a risk to children.
'There is also the tremendous cost to the public purse to replace grid covers with a material that has minimal scrap value.'
The grids can earn the thief a meager £7 but can cost highways engineers £200 to replace each one.
