THIEVES stole metal worth more than £2,000 from a Bolton scrapyard.

Police had been warning owners of scrapyards to check the source of any lead or copper they are offered as crooks cash in on soaring metal prices.

But John Kay, general manager at SC Chadwick in Breightmet, found the tables had turned when burglars broke into the yard and loaded a van with copper cabling, worth £1,500, and old car batteries, worth £600.

Mr Kay said: "Police say all scrapyards have to be on alert but now we're suffering as well.

"It's the first time in a long time we've had anything taken but it's down to the price of metals."

Police have reported an "epidemic" in thefts of metals such as copper and lead in recent months in Bolton and surrounding areas, with thieves targeting businesses, homes and churches, often for the flashing on roofs.

Officers have sent letters to scrapyard owners outlining their duties under the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

They have encouraged them to take extra measures such as photographing customers, so they can be traced as part of any police inquiry.

Mr Kay said staff at his yard in Oakenbottom Road always keep a copy of the photo ID of anyone they buy metal from.

He believes the stolen batteries had been taken because they contain lead, but specialist knowledge would be needed to extract the metal.

A police spokesman confirmed that a gang of three or four thieves removed two sections of a metal palisade fence to get into the yard, before breaking the lock on the main gates. They went to the yard three times between 7pm and 8.45pm on Monday, each time closing the gates to give the appearance that the site had not been entered.

Part of the break-in was filmed on the site's CCTV cameras and officers are examining footage in a bid to catch the thieves.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 872 5050.