200 manhole covers stolen in 21 days in Dudley

Around 200 manhole covers have been stolen across Dudley over the last three weeks as thieves look to cash in on the soaring price of scrap metal.

Officers say in one week alone 77 were taken from the Castle and Priory area and from Gornal and Coseley.

Council chiefs are replacing those stolen with non-metal covers in a bid to deter the thieves but it can cost hundreds of pounds to repair and replace each cover.

Police say the north of the borough has been badly hit.