RESIDENTS said they were 'shook up' to discovered thieves had been sneaking into their backyards to steal York stones.

Sarah Heyes, from Sandy Lane in Accrington, had 10 of the paving stones stolen from her yard during the night.

Just 24 hours earlier one of her elderly neighbours also had three stones taken from her garden.

Mrs Heyes lives with her husband Lee and two young children, age four and five, and said the incident had left them worried.

She said: “It’s quite frightening really to know that they’ve been in our yard.

“We did a lot of work getting the yard sorted when we moved in, and now I can’t let the children go out and play.

“I’ve not told them about what actually happened, I don’t want to scare them.

“After I reported it, an elderly women further along the street said the same thing had happened to her, but she’d been too scared to report it.

“She’s still really shook up about it.”

Mrs Heyes said she noticed her gate had been left open the previously, which she now believes might have been for the people responsible to loosen the stones.

The student nurse said she has seen this type of paving stone going for up to £100 a slab on the internet.

Mrs Heyes, who has since increased security, said she was also concerned the thieves may return for the rest of the stones.

The 29-year-old said: “There’s been a few burglaries on nearby Queen Elizabeth Crescent in Accrington over the weekend as well.

“With all that’s going on I don’t think it’s out of order to ask for some more police patrols or more help.

“It’s normally a nice street where we live but we’ve just been having these problems recently. We need to catch those responsible.”

Residents said they are also planning to speak to councillors about the issue.

The incidents have been reported to the police who are now investigating.

A spokesman said: “It’s been reported to us that 10 York stone flags were taken from one yard in Sandy Lane overnight Sunday.

“Three stone flags were taken from another property on the road between Friday night and Sunday morning.

“We’d urge anyone with any information to get in contact with us on 101."