IT might not be the crime of the century, but it is causing police a major headache.

Hundreds of traffic cones, often the "trophies" from a night out on the town, have gone missing across Darlington in the past year.

Police have now launched an amnesty for the return of their missing yellow cones after 90 per cent of them have disappeared during the past 12 months.

Officers will ask no questions of those who have collected the cones, in a bid to save thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

PC Jonathan Stoker, of Durham Police, said that last year the force had 500 cones. It now has only 50.

The thefts have left police struggling to control traffic at major events in the town, including Darlington football club's home game with Lincoln City and the Rhythm 'n' Brews event, in the town square last weekend.

In November, they will need the cones, which cost between £5 and £10 each, to section off areas at the Darlington South Park fireworks display.

Other major events recently have included the Great North Walk, the Darlington 10k and Bike Wise, at Aykley Heads, in Durham.

Police need to put more cones out for all Darlington home games as crowds continue to increase. They can also be called on by people wanting to close roads for events.

PC Stoker said: "Large numbers are put out to control traffic at a wide variety of events and if there is a delay in collecting them in again, many just disappear.

"Some will become souvenirs, some are taken in by the public or shopkeepers as a handy item to be used in the future, some fall victim to vandals and end up in rivers and streams or discarded on land.

"But it is amazing that scores and scores seem to just vanish into thin air. It's as if there is a cone monster gobbling them up."

He added: "This isn't just Darlington. This is across the force. It has been highlighted in Darlington because of the numbers we have lost.

"We are not after arresting people.

"We don't think people will have hundreds and hundreds of them, but they will add up quickly."

In 2003, Cleveland Police mounted a similar appeal. Travellers visiting Yarm Fair also donated money to buy new cones.

Two years previously, more than 1,000 motorway cones were stolen from the A1(M) between Newton Aycliffe and the Burtree Interchange.

People can report missing cones to PC Stoker on 0845-60-60-3655, extension 6714120, email the force via the website www. durham.police.uk, or return them to the station.