THIEVES have stolen 20 signs on a stretch of road in York, costing the council more than £1,000 of public money to replace.

The signs which were put up by council workers to warn motorists of works road works on Hull Road, which began this morning, were stolen sometime on Wednesday night.

Coun Dafydd Williams, the council’s cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “It astounds me why people would jeopardise the safety of others and steal signs which are clearly there to pre-warn members of the public of road works on one of the busiest roads in York.

"I urge residents and visitors to be vigilant and if they have seen or do see anything suspicious like this taking place to please to contact the police or Crimestoppers.”

Police and City of York Council are appealing for any witnesses or anybody with information about the theft to come forward.

About 20 large metal signs had been put on the A1079 road to warn members of the public of re-surfacing works on the stretch of road, which will continue on Friday and throughout the day on Monday.

The re-surfacing works between York Road and Common Lane are still taking place and the council has – at additional cost – paid for a contractor to provide new traffic signs.

Anyone who has any information about the theft is asked to phone police on 101.