Watch your step: Clevedon manhole covers stolen for scrap

Manhole covers costing thousands of pounds have gone missing in Clevedon and across North Somerset in a spate of thefts.

Avon and Somerset Police officers are conducting door to door enquiries and reviewing CCTV after 19 covers disappeared from Clevedon, Backwell, Burrington, Worle, Chew Stoke and Churchill in the past 48 hours.

And North Somerset Council are warning motorists and pedestrians to take care and watch out for missing manhole covers until they the metal caps can be replaced.

It is believed the covers have been stolen to be sold as scrap following the increase in the price of metals.

Council spokesman Nick Yates said manholes had been taken from Kenn Road in Clevedon as well as three from Lower Kewstoke Rd and two from Anson Road in Kewstoke, three in Dundry Lane, Dundry, and two in Backwell from Church Lane and Kellways. 

He said the total cost is around £4,000 and they could take days to be replaced as they need to be specially ordered in.

North Somerset spokesman for the police, Michael Flay, said they were investigating the incident but as yet did not know who was behind the thefts and urged anyone with any information or who sees suspicious activity to contact the police.