Thieves are using heavy machinery to steal street lanterns around Brighton and Hove.

More than 60 lanterns have been stolen in the last week.

It is thought they may be being sold on, or broken up for scrap.

Brighton and Hove City Council said the thefts have left live wires exposed and plunged some areas into darkness.

A spokeswoman said: "Many of the lanterns stolen are originals, although thieves have also taken modern replacements.

"To ensure safety, the council’s street lighting contractor Colas is disconnecting the electricity on columns found to be missing their lanterns."

Jeff Elliott, the council's highway services manager, said: “The thieves must be using a cherry picker type of vehicle to get at the lanterns, so should be easy to spot. They are also risking being electrocuted as the wiring is all live.

“Police and council officers are patrolling the areas in an attempt to catch the thieves red handed, but we’re appealing to the public to help us by keeping a lookout too.”

The council said the only vehicles that should be used to access street lanterns belong to Colas, which use bright yellow and red vehicles that have Brighton and Hove and East Sussex councils’ logos. No other vehicles are authorised to work on them.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious or has information about the missing lanterns is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999, quoting serial number 876 of May 12.