CHEEKY metal thieves have stolen a manhole cover from the middle of Coleford.

Police say the thieves put cyclists and pedestrians in danger.

The manhole cover was stolen from Sparrow Hill between midnight on Friday September 30 and 10am on Saturday October 1.

The thieves would have needed a vehicle to take the heavy cover away.

PC Lee Buckle, from Coleford police station, said: "It is strongly suspected that scrap metal thieves have stolen the manhole cover from the roadside. "This is an obvious safety concern for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, and I would welcome any reports from the public reporting any missing covers, and any information relating to who may be responsible. Gloucestershire Highways are the victim, as are the public who pay their taxes to maintain the roads locally."

Anyone who can help the investigation should contact police on 101 quoting incident number 206 of October 1.