A call for action to tackle the problem of metal theft in the district received cross-party support last night at a meeting of Bradford Council.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby tabled a Labour motion calling for urgent talks with the police, the scrap metal trade and other groups to determine what more can be done locally.

A Conservative amendment was voted through by all parties with the addition of requiring the Council’s existing performance to regulate and inspect the scrap metal industry to be evaluated.

It comes as 610 metal gully grates have been stolen in Bradford in the past ten months at a cost of thousands of pounds to Bradford Council.

To replace them directly would have cost the authority £122,000. However, the majority were replaced with re-enforced plastic gullies instead, costing £70,000.

Coun Ferriby said metal theft often caused disruption on a far greater scale than the actual value of the theft itself.