A retired Cononley couple have been left baffled after five heavy drain grates were stolen from the end of their drive.

Peter and Diana Boreham, of Woodside Lane, woke up on Wednesday last week to discover the drain grates, each weighing approximately 100 pounds, had been removed by thieves.

Police said at least two men would have been required to move the grates, along with a large vehicle. They disappeared between 1pm on Tuesday March 10 and 8.30am the following morning.

Mr and Mrs Boreham suspect scrap metal thieves are the likely culprits.

“It’s pathetic,” said Mr Boreham. “They’re not going to get anything back for them. The grates were made to fit to that specific area.”

The grates were installed in 1990 to alleviate floodwater run-off from the surrounding hills.

“It amazes me that people would go around looking for them,” said Mr Boreham. “Sometimes I can’t believe people, they just baffle me.”

And his wife said: “They’ve remained undisturbed for almost 20 years. I can’t believe they noticed that they were here.”

She said their neighbour accidentally drove into the hole left behind after the grates had been removed.

“She was taking her children to school and didn’t see them. It could have been a bad accident and could have ruined her car.”

The North Yorkshire highways department has now put up cones to keep people from driving into the open drain. Meanwhile, the Borehams are getting the grates replaced, which will cost £1,500, and hope they will be finished by the end of the week.

Witnesses are being sought and anyone with information about the theft should ring Skipton Police on 0845 6060 247 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.