DOZENS of deep holes have been left at roadsides across a town by thieves digging up metal drain covers.

The covers have been stolen from several streets across Waltham Abbey to be sold as scrap metal.

Dennis Esau, 77 of Honey Lane, said about 25 holes had appeared across the Ninefields estate and all the covers in Darby Drive were gone.

“It's so dangerous,” he said. “I wouldn't like to think of the damage you could cause falling down one of them. You could break your leg in the dark.”

He said the covers had been missing for about 10 days and seemed to have been stolen over a short space of time.

Broomstick Hall Road resident Bryan Shreeve, 76, said: “I would have thought the council would know about it.

“There are about six death traps down Darby Drive. They're about two feet square and about 12 feet down.”

Drain covers have also gone missing in Broomstick Hall Road, Winter's Way and Honey Lane.

Broomstick Hall Road resident Steve Stanley, 55, blamed the high value of metal for the spate of thefts.

“They're quite valuable,” he added. “Ten of them would probably be worth about £200.

“There are cones over the top of the holes, but outside King Harold's School, the kids are poking them down the drains.”

The county council has not yet given a date for when the drain covers would be replaced or if it would use any anti-theft methods in the future.

A spokeswoman said: “The council considers these thefts to be a very serious issue.

“Not only does it pose an obvious safety risk, it also costs a significant amount of money to replace them.”

Anyone with information on the thefts should call Essex Police on 0300 3334444.