THIEVES are causing a potentially lethal hazard for motorists by stealing reflective road signs.

Council chiefs confirmed yesterday that the theft of chevrons was on the increase in the Darlington area.

The signs have been taken from the roadside at various locations, including the B6279 Staindrop Road, the Piercebridge to Heighington road and on the Hurworth to Middleton St George route.

Councillor Peter Foster, of Hurworth Parish Council, said: "These are some of the worst bends in the area and I fought for a long time to get them repaired a couple of years ago."

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said: "It is something that we are taking very seriously indeed. There is a safety issue because they are only put in places where road conditions are considered to be a potential danger.