£7,000 signs go at Wood

Restoration works in Canklow Woods have suffered a "serious setback" after the theft of three large metal entrance signs to the woodland close to West Bawtry Road.

The signs measure nearly two metres high by half a metre wide and were installed in 2005 by Rotherham Council to make the woods more welcoming to visitors.

They formed part of an educational trail through Canklow Woods, which in recent years has undergone maintenance of footpaths and bridleways.

The theft comes amid a national increase in thefts of scrap and other metals as the market value rockets.

The values of zinc and copper have seen a 300 per cent rise, with nickel, brass and stainless steel prices rising by about 250 per cent. As well as scrap metal, thieves are also stealing beer kegs, and stolen metal is finding itself being shipped as far afield as China as the lucrative business booms.

Police are appealing for information about the Canklow Woods signs, and all scrap merchants in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire area have been contacted with a description.

Rotherham Council Trees and Woodlands Officer, Roger Gaynor, said: "The theft is a significant loss to both Canklow Wood and the authority's woodland estate.

"The estimated cost of replacing these signs will be about 7,000 and is a considerable share of the resources available.

"This will undoubtedly result in other woodland improvement works being cancelled and will be especially felt so soon after damage following the flooding."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious between August 9 and 16, or anyone offered the signs, is urged to call police on 0114 220 2020.