DANGEROUS holes are being left in Burnley's streets by thieves stealing cast iron grids to sell as scrap.

Around a dozen have been taken from Denbigh Grove and Dunnon Street, in the south-west area of the town.

Taxpayers will have to pay the £2,000 bill to replace them and engineers are worried that people can easily trip and fall if an exposed hole is left.

Council officials say 75 have been taken over the last 18 months, across Burnley, but the latest spate has concerned engineers.

The thefts are believed to have been sparked by thieves seeking to cash in on the high resale value of scrap metal and they are the latest in a string of incidents to hit the town.

Old railway tracks have been removed in Cliviger and lead worth £3,000 has been taken from the roof of the Queen Street Mill museum.

There has also been a spate of thefts of low-value cars by thieves wanting to cash them in for scrap.

County Coun Matthew Tomlinson, environment cabinet member, said: "I am amazed that anyone has the brass neck to go out and brazenly steal public property in this way.

"The problem is that members of the public see a van turn up and a couple of men in fluorescent jackets putting cones out, so they presume it's all above board.

"Alarm bells only ring when people notice gaping holes in the road. And while we are out to replace the grate tops at great expense, the culprits will be trying to find a scrap yard to buy the iron.

"As well as the cost to the taxpayer this sort of crime leaves behind a major safety hazard for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and drivers."

The grids have been replaced with lightweight ductile iron' fittings - which are more difficult to remove and have a lower scrap value.

Council chiefs say the grids are actually of little value - when they have been weighed in for scrap - but are costly to replace as a highways authority.

Anyone with information on the thefts should call the county council on 0845 053 0011 or Burnley police on 01282 425001.