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Officials say lives are being put at risk after a series of gully grate thefts which create hazards on roads when grids are left uncovered. The council affected, Trafford in the north-west, believe that the thieves are taking the cast iron grates to scrap metal dealers, where they can weigh them in as scrap.

Utility firms have responded to the price of copper increasing 41% which has in turn led to a rise in thefts from its premises by setting up a nationwide intelligence-led task force.

A survey conducted by Gate Safe highlighted a high level of risk among automated gates. It shows that a huge 88 per cent of the gates surveyed failed to comply with current health and safety guidelines in relation to the inclusion of recommended features/procedures designed to reduce the risk of injury.

A cordon had to put around an industrial shed in case of explosive material. BBC Scotland presenter Bill Whiteford, who lives nearby, said: "We’re very close the main Glasgow-Edinburgh line.

Chesterfield Football Club has posted an appeal on its website to try to identify those involved in a weekend pitch invasion and is using CCTV cameras in an attempt to catch a fan who was involved in an alleged assault.

A partnership between retail outlets and a local authority in Greater London has led to hundreds of passers-by using toilets in various premises without having to buy anything.

Councillors have complained about plans to build new homes on car parks, saying that removing much-needed parking areas could threaten the growth of the town of Colwyn Bay, Wales. James Harland, the council’s Senior Planning Officer, replied to concerns: “In line with National Guidance the priority for the Council is to make the most efficient use of previously developed sites.

A town councillor has suggested possible cuts to local toilet provision could be solved by town councils taking over the running of some of the toilets. Cllr Jan French believed her town of March needed to keep both its sets of toilets, but said the matter had yet to be discussed by the town council.

Youth workers have warned that axeing the majority of resources from a community scheme will lead to more offending.

A petrol station was closed after a collision in which a lorry driver was injured. Emergency services said significant damage was caused to the kiosk at Eashing Service Station, in Godalming, when a lorry hit a parked car on the forecourt. The building was also hit by the lorry on Thursday night and therefore was declared unsafe following an inspection, and has been closed for business.

A rash of crimes involving the theft of copper, fuelled by its soaring cost, is only expected to get worse according to police. The thefts affect gas supplies, electricity companies and telecoms cables; and the criminal activities’ cost to the UK has doubled to around £770 million a year.

A Police Federation spokesman reacted to the fact that the number of Cleveland Police officers is to be reduced to meet funding cuts.