METAL thieves have cost tens of thousands of pounds as the number of cases doubled across the county.

The number of metal thefts reported to Dorset Police has more than doubled over five years, from 753 cases in 2006, to 1,579 cases by the end of 2011.

In Weymouth, the theft of stainless steel railings from parks and bridges have cost the public thousands of pounds to replace, as well as causing a hazard to people’s safety.

Dorset Police said thieves stole 3.5metres of hand rail from the sea wall at Newton’s Cove near the Nothe Gardens.

Rodney Best, a concerned local resident, said: “I was shocked when I got up there and found that the railings on the steps were gone. It’s such a selfish crime and the steps were in a dangerous state – you could easily have fallen over the edge.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council estimates the cost of the replacement works was around £2,000.

Community safety spokesman Geoff Petherick said: “The borough council is aware of the theft of the railings and these have now been replaced.”

This latest incident came only weeks after railings from Newtons Cove bridge were removed.

According to letsreycle.com, the price of stainless steel solids was £580 per tonne in 2006, and have reached £1,400. Metal theft has risen during the recession in the face of demand from abroad and is estimated to cost the country £770m a year.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a £5million task force led by British Transport Police to gather intelligence and disrupt criminal networks.

Tony Glover, a spokesman for the Energy Networks Association, said: “I know that communications providers and railways have been impacted in the South West and there’s also been a big impact on the agricultural industry.

“In Dorset we have seen a doubling increase in the thefts of metal and it is one of the areas that has gone up most in the UK.”

Thieves target various sources including electricity sub-stations, power lines, bronze plaques and roof lead.

In September the Echo reported on a spate of buildings in Dorchester which were targeted for lead, including Thomas Hardye School.

Dorset Police urge anyone with information to contact them on 101.