SECTIONS of aluminium worth £4,000 that were stolen from a factory yard have been found hidden among gravestones in a cemetery.

Fifteen boxes containing the metal were taken at the weekend from road sign makers William Smith, at Barnard Castle.

But a resident saw them in a graveyard in the centre of the town two days later and called the police. Two men who were nearby at the time ran away.

Acting Sergeant Mick Urwin, of Barnard Castle police, said yesterday: "We believe the aluminium must have been carried over some allotment gardens and into the cemetery to be hidden.

"The sections were five metres long and there were two in each box, so it must have taken two people to carry each one.

"We are grateful to the person who spotted them."

He appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the allotments or cemetery at the weekend to contact PC Helen Tulip, at the police station or on (01833) 637328.

Police said later that one man had been arrested and questioned, but inquiries were continuing.