Country lane gratings are stolen

It costs £150 to replace each stolen gulley cover

Thieves removing cast iron gully gratings are targeting country lanes in the county of Conwy.

In one small area near Llansannan seven have been removed in recent weeks.

The community council clerk said the covers were probably taken to sell as scrap, but it was both inconvenient and a potential hazard.

A spokeswoman for Conwy Council said the covers cost £150 each to replace, a cost which would have to be borne by the county's ratepayers.

"Fortunately no-one has fallen into one of these yet, but a cyclist or a pedestrian walking at night could easily fall into the hole left when these covers are removed," said Eifion Jones, clerk to Llansannan Community Council.

Someone using the road could also be seriously injured Conwy Council spokeswoman

"These people must have a van or something and a T-shaped tool they put down the grading to lift it up.

"It's obvious that some of the covers are stuck down, because they've left any which have been too difficult to lift," he added.

The thieves are thought to be cashing on the current high price for scrap metal, said Mr Jones.

"What people don't realise though is that it's not a mater of just replacing the cover as they are old and new ones are not the same shape, so the whole structure has to be dug up and replaced," he added.

'Higher rates'

"Someone somewhere must know something about this because someone is taking them.

"They probably don't live in the area either, and so won't have to pay higher rates," he added.

A spokeswoman for Conwy council confirmed a number of gully gratings had been removed, along with some road signs in and around Llansannan and Llanfair Talhaiarn.

"The council's highway's officers are keen to hear from anyone who saw something suspicious, or who has any information about the whereabouts of the stolen items," she said.

The metal gully covers are made of cast iron and cost £150 each.

"Once again it will be the rate payers who have to pay for the damage caused by these offences.

"Someone using the road could also be seriously injured," she added.