Police figures show that there has been a 48.3 per cent increase – or an extra 1,546 crimes – in metal thefts in the county.

Two Lancashire people have been arrested on the back of evidence gathered as part of Operation Starling – a national crackdown on metal theftswhich saw officers visit scrap yards and metal dealers and carry out roadside stop-checks on vehicles suspected of transporting stolen metal.

On the first day the Eastern Police Division stopped 115 vehicles and issued 30 warning letters to suspected scrap metal thieves. On the same day, the Pennine Division issued a warrant at the home of a suspected metal thief, stopped and searched five scrap dealer vehicles and visited eight offenders.

Chief Inspector Jon Bullas, who has been overseeing the operation, said the main aim had been to gather intelligence which could lead to further arrests.

He said: “We are committed to tackling the problem of metal theft which costs victims in Lancashire thousands of pounds each year.

“Thieves have targeted homes and businesses as well as buildings like churches, causing significant damage and distress.”

Anyone with information about the metal thefts should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.