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METAL thieves are making roads in north Hampshire dangerous by stealing heavy grills and covers from drainage gullies.

Thieves stole 16 gully covers in Basingstoke in July, while 12 covers have disappeared from the Hart area in the last three months.

Councillor Mel Kendal, executive member for environment at Hampshire County Council, said: "It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured as a result of gully thieves' selfishness.

"Stealing gully gratings is mindless, highly dangerous and places greater financial burden on the council taxpayer."

The spate of thefts is replicated in other areas of Hampshire. In the past three months, there were 32 gully cover thefts in the Rushmoor area, and 15 recorded in the Test Valley area.

Replacement covers each cost the county council £200 to buy.

Cllr Kendal said: "While it might appear to be a minor problem, the gratings must be replaced as quickly as possible and doing this diverts our people from doing core, routine jobs and takes money away from the public purse, leaving less for essential services.

"This isn't the first time this has happened and I urge anyone who either notices that a gully grating is missing, or sees someone acting suspiciously near a highways drain, to contact us or the police immediately."

Concerned residents can report missing drain covers to Hampshire County Council on 0845 603 5633.

2:41pm Sunday 24th August 2008

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