The Great Drain Robbery has landed taxpayers with a bill for thousands of pounds.

West Sussex County Council is having to spend £3,000 to replace 20 drain covers, all thought to have been taken by the same gang.

The metal covers - some with a scrap metal value of hundreds of pounds - have been taken by the thieves in Horsham, Lower Beeding and Warnham and the council is appealing for help.

It costs about £150 to replace each cover and council officers have had to react quickly to cover the open drains to ensure public safety until the new lids are delivered.

It is feared the thieves, who are thought to be cashing in by selling the lids for scrap, will target other areas in the county. Larger covers are estimated to make about £700 in the scrapyard.

Highways and transport councillor Tex Pemberton said: "This is not just about theft. Leaving a drain open and exposed is highly irresponsible and could cause a serious accident.

"It is quite a stupid act and anyone being offered these covers for sale will be aware they are likely to be receiving stolen goods if they take up the offer.

"I hope if residents see drain covers being removed they will report it to the police and take down the licence number of any vehicles being used."

Scrap metal theft from public property on this scale is rare, although not unheard of.

The Argus reported in April last year that 14 aluminium doors had been taken from street light boxes in Brighton in a week.

Meanwhile a number of heavy wooden farm gates and railway sleepers were stolen the month before.

More than 25 gates were taken from three farms near Steyning during three weeks in March last year.

Last year 15 drain covers were reported stolen within two days in Bexley, south east London and 130 covers in Aberdeen.

There have been similar thefts in Gloucester, West Norfolk, Cambridge and Lincolnshire in recent years.

Up to 1,500 were stolen around the Chinese city of Shanghai and the uncovered drains were blamed for at least eight deaths.

Anyone with who has witnessed any of the thefts in the Horsham area or has been offered drain covers for scrap should call police on 0845 60 70 999.