RESIDENTS are being urged to be on the alert after a spate of thefts of valuable stone slabs.

York Stone is used across the country for paving outside properties and its high value means it has become popular with thieves.

In the past six months there have been reports across Bolton of the paving being stolen.

Now residents in Little Lever are being warned to beware after several properties were targeted in the area.

A householder in Dearden Street contacted The Bolton News after she was hit by thieves.

She said that her next door neighbours and other people in her street have been hit in recent months.

Police said they were called to Dearden Street to a report that the slabs had been taken from outside a property and said the investigation is ongoing.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, said flags were taken from outside her next door neighbour's house a few months ago and she also knew of other houses in the street which had been targeted for stones.

She added that people were going 'out of their way' to steal them and said the thieves were 'scum'.

In January, Linda and Steve Clare, of Chorley Old Road, Horwich, had their whole pathway taken one night by thieves and in December a woman in Bromley Cross had her pathway taken.

There was also a spate of thefts at St Thomas the Apostle Church and St Paul's Community Centre in October.

A square metre of York Stone is estimated to be worth around £40 to £65 per square metre.

Anyone with information about the thefts should contact police on 101.